With the regular season just two days away for the Detroit Red Wings, Simon Edvinsson is back in Sweden.
The unsigned defenseman, still a restricted free agent, has returned to his native country and is training with Frolunda, according to Aftonbladet. That means one of Detroit’s most important young blue-liners is not currently with the club as the puck draw near on Friday evening.
Edvinsson did report to training camp despite not having an NHL contract, and he skated with the rest of his teammates during non-scrimmage drills. Earlier this month, he explained why he made the trip to Detroit even without a deal.
"I don't see the reason for me to sit at home, to be honest," Edvinsson said earlier this month. "I think I would be stressed if I were back in Sweden now and I saw everybody else practicing. We are going into a new season where it's important that everybody is linked together."
"I don't know the expression, but everybody needs to be on the same page, and that was my reasoning to come over here," he continued.
On Wednesday, Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff addressed the situation in a statement.
“As of today, Simon is not practicing with the team. The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives.”
The holdout leaves Detroit waiting on a player it clearly values highly. Edvinsson, the club’s first-round pick and sixth overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, has grown into Detroit’s second-best defenseman behind Moritz Seider.
The contract standoff appears to come down to term. Reports have indicated the Red Wings are interested in a bridge-style deal, while Edvinsson and his camp would prefer something longer.
Whatever the eventual agreement looks like, the timing is rough for Detroit. With opening night now just over 48 hours away, the Red Wings are running out of time to settle one of their biggest roster questions.
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The timing leaves Detroit in an awkward spot just days before opening night, with its defensive plans still tied to a negotiation that has yet to be finished. Edvinsson is preparing abroad while the Red Wings sort through the last details, and until something is finalized, his status for the opener against the Rangers remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]