The Boston Bruins are in the mix for Simon Edvinsson, but they’re hardly alone.
Pierre LeBrun reported Thursday night that Boston is “among a long list of teams” showing interest in the Detroit Red Wings’ unsigned restricted free agent. LeBrun added that at least 10 teams have inquired, though Detroit’s interim general manager Shawn Horcoff is still trying to keep the 23-year-old defenseman in the fold.
Boston is among a long list of teams that has shown interest in Simon Edvinsson. Believe there’s at least 10 teams that have inquired.
But those teams are being told by interim GM Shawn Horcoff that his preference remains trying to re-sign the RFA. The longer this goes on,…
- Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 8, 2026
Edvinsson has not signed and went back home to Sweden after spending training camp on a PTO with Detroit. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman later reported that Edvinsson would prefer a trade out of Detroit, but the Red Wings still do not want to part with the 6-foot-6 blueliner.
Horcoff has been given the green light to work out an extension, and LeBrun reported the Red Wings have already put long-, mid-, and short-term offers in front of him.
If this turns into an offer-sheet battle, the Bruins’ path is complicated. Edvinsson is eligible, but Boston does not own its second- and third-round picks, which means an offer sheet would only become possible if the Bruins go above $11,939,166 and give up four first-round picks in compensation.
A trade would not come cheap, either. RG’s Marco D’Amico said on The Starr & D’Amico Show that “it won’t be cheap at all,” and added it would be “Much more than what the Canadiens paid to get Noah Dobson.” Montreal sent two first-round picks, Nos. 16 and 17, plus Emil Heineman to the Islanders for Dobson at the 2025 NHL Draft, then signed him to an eight-year, $76 million deal with a $9.5 million AAV as part of a sign-and-trade.
Boston does have the draft capital to get involved, including three first-round picks over the next two years. Ryan Dixon of Sportsnet floated the idea of Detroit targeting a young center in return and mentioned James Hagens as a possibility, while also noting that “it would be awfully tough [for the Bruins] to give up Hagens.”
Edvinsson’s production last season was solid: 25 points in 72 games, with nine goals and 16 assists. Over four NHL seasons, he has appeared in 175 games and totaled 60 points, plus a plus-17 rating.
He spent most of last season on the top pair with Moritz Seider, and the numbers were strong when the two were together. The pair logged 1,086:49 at 5-on-5, controlled 52.9% of shot attempts, and helped Detroit outscore opponents 51-38. Edvinsson also averaged 22:21 of ice time per game and ranked third among Red Wings defensemen in penalty-kill time.
The picture changed when Seider wasn’t on the ice. According to Natural Stat Trick, Detroit controlled just 46.78% of shot attempts and was outscored 17-5 without him.
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