Simon Edvinsson remains one of the few notable restricted free agents still without a deal, and the Red Wings are reportedly leaning toward a bridge contract rather than a long-term commitment.
That’s the latest read from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who said on a recent appearance on 102.5 The Game that Detroit’s preference appears to be a shorter-term agreement for the 23-year-old defenseman. It’s a notable stance for a player who has already become a major part of the team’s blue line.
Edvinsson even took the unusual step of showing up to training camp without a contract, a situation tied to Detroit’s prolonged general manager search that has left Shawn Horcoff in an interim GM role. Horcoff has been given the go-ahead to handle significant roster decisions, but so far, there’s no sign he’s pushing for a major swing on this one.
The Red Wings selected Edvinsson sixth overall in 2021, and he has become a key piece on the back end over the past two seasons. He’s handled tough defensive assignments and added offense along the way. Last season, he posted nine goals and 16 assists while blocking 148 shots and logging more than 22 minutes per night.
That production makes the bridge-contract preference a little surprising, especially given Detroit’s cap position. The Red Wings have more than $19MM in cap space, according to PuckPedia, so a long-term deal would not be out of reach from a financial standpoint.
The question is whether the issue is less about room under the cap and more about the price tag. After Zeev Buium landed a max-term deal worth over $9.3MM from Vancouver, Edvinsson’s camp could be aiming for an even higher average annual value.
That would put him ahead of Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider on Detroit’s salary scale, something the club may be trying to avoid. Speculatively, the Red Wings could be aiming to keep his number below Seider’s, their top defenseman.
AFP Analytics had projected a bridge deal for Edvinsson at around $5.6MM earlier this offseason, but that number may no longer reflect where the market is headed. A shorter contract now probably starts in the sixes, if not the sevens, especially compared with some of the five-year deals that have gone north of $7MM per season for players in similar situations.
It has already been a rough summer for Detroit, with Larkin’s trade request still unresolved and a roster that hasn’t clearly improved from last season. Going into the year without Edvinsson under contract would only make matters worse. The next question is whether his camp will accept a bridge deal or whether this situation stretches beyond opening night.
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