Nashville is one of the teams interested in trading for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, TSN insider Pierre LeBrun reported on Early Trading. NHL Watcher shared LeBrun’s comments on X.
LeBrun added that interim Red Wings general manager Shawn Horcoff and the organization would still prefer to keep Edvinsson and sign him rather than trade him. Edvinsson remains an unsigned restricted free agent and has not played this season.
Detroit has been working on a contract with the defenseman since his three-year entry-level contract expired in the summer. Restricted free agents must be signed by Dec. 1 to be eligible to play in the NHL this season.
Horcoff has been firm on the club’s position. Speaking to reporters on Oct. 14, he said: “I have zero interest in trading Simon Edvinsson. I want to keep him.” He added that a trade was “not something I’m entertaining” and that Detroit wants to “sign Simon and hopefully get that done.”
Edvinsson’s numbers help explain why Detroit wants to keep him. He averaged 22:21 of ice time last season, second on the team to Moritz Seider (25:40), and recorded nine goals and 25 points in 72 games with a plus-12 rating. He has 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) in 175 career games since Detroit drafted him sixth overall in 2021.
The hold-up is financial. David Pagnotta of Daily Faceoff has reported that Detroit offered a six-year deal at around $8.5 million per season, while Edvinsson’s camp was seeking roughly $11 million annually on a long-term contract. Mike Sullivan’s group has not closed that gap, and Edvinsson has been skating on his own while the talks continue.
Nashville’s interest doesn’t mean Simon Edvinsson is on his way out
Nashville has been one of the busier teams on the trade market under president of hockey operations and general manager Chris MacFarland, who took over in June. The Predators acquired defenseman Jayden Struble from Montreal on Oct. 9 for a 2027 second-round pick and claimed Daemon Hunt on waivers from Minnesota on Oct. 24. Frank Seravalli of Sportsnet reported that Nashville was still watching the defense market after the Struble trade.
Interest is not the same as a deal. LeBrun reported on Oct. 8 that at least 10 teams had inquired about Simon Edvinsson and that each was told Horcoff preferred to re-sign him. On Early Trading, LeBrun also said of the player’s side:
“I would stop short of saying there was a formal trade request.”
Nashville has not commented publicly on Edvinsson. Any trade would also require a new contract, since Simon Edvinsson is a restricted free agent rather than a player on an expiring deal.
Edited by Sonali Verma
