- Elliotte Friedman says the Red Wings’ preference is a bridge deal for Simon Edvinsson, not a long-term extension
- Edvinsson is skating at camp on a de facto tryout while the two sides work out a new contract
- Read below for where the money could land and how this ties into the Dylan Larkin situation
The Red Wings have tipped their hand on what they want to do with Simon Edvinsson.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported this week that Detroit’s preference is a bridge contract for the 23-year-old defenseman, not the long-term extension a lot of people assumed was coming. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has final say, and so far he isn’t rushing to hand out a big number.
Friedman was asked directly about where Edvinsson’s camp stands on that approach:
Edvinsson has been skating at Red Wings camp without a contract, calling himself a professional tryout while he waits out the front office. Gino Hard covered his unusual camp arrangement earlier this month.
The 23-year-old had nine goals and 16 assists last season, plus 148 blocked shots in more than 22 minutes a night. That’s a top-four workload, and it explains why Detroit wants him long-term even while trying to keep this year’s number down.
Money isn’t really the issue. The Red Wings have more than $19 million in cap space, per PuckPedia, and could easily offer term if they wanted to. The bridge approach looks more like an attempt to keep Edvinsson’s cap hit below Moritz Seider’s, Detroit’s highest-paid defenseman.
The market has shifted since teams started planning for Edvinsson’s next deal. The Canucks signed Zeev Buium to an eight-year, $9.38 million contract this offseason, and that number changes the math for every young defenseman negotiating this fall.
Friedman broke the situation down on the 32 Thoughts Podcast:
None of this is happening in a vacuum. Larkin’s trade request is still hanging over the organization, and his list of acceptable destinations keeps growing.
Horcoff inherited a mess when he stepped into the GM chair in July. An unsigned top-four defenseman heading into opening night would only add to it.
