Simon Edvinsson is back in Sweden, and that alone would be a routine preseason note for a young NHL defenseman trying to stay sharp. But for the Detroit Red Wings, it lands with a much sharper edge because their top left-handed defenseman still doesn’t have a contract.
A video posted Tuesday showed Edvinsson on the ice with Frölunda HC, the organization that developed him before Detroit took him sixth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. With the Red Wings set to open the regular season Friday at home against the New York Rangers, the timing could hardly be worse.
Edvinsson has already been around the team throughout camp and kept practicing despite being unsigned. Now he’s back in Sweden to continue preparing, but he cannot play in Detroit’s opener without a contract.
That’s the part making this situation sting for the Red Wings. Edvinsson is coming off the most important season of his young career, one in which he played 72 games, scored nine goals and finished with 25 points while logging more than 22 minutes per night. He also spent a significant amount of time alongside Moritz Seider, giving Detroit a young pairing it should be building around.
Instead, the conversation has shifted to the delay itself. The offseason has been there for the taking, and yet Edvinsson remains unsigned with opening night days away.
The frustration has spilled beyond the usual contract chatter. One reaction described the Red Wings as being “in purgatory right now,” pointing to the lack of a general manager, no Edvinsson deal, no updates regarding Larkin, no communication and no direction. That same reaction also said, “I feel really bad for the rookies and young players that made the roster in this chaos”
Another response went even further, arguing that “Chris Illitch really is cheap…VERY cheap… #LGRW #RedWings”
Whether the issue is viewed as a front-office misstep, an ownership problem or a negotiation still waiting to find common ground, the reality is unchanged: Detroit has let this drag all the way to the doorstep of the season.
Edvinsson is not a fringe piece trying to sneak onto the roster. He’s one of the organization’s most important young players, and the Red Wings need him, especially if they believe this group is finally ready to push for a playoff spot.
There are always two sides to a contract standoff, and Edvinsson’s camp deserves scrutiny too if the gap is still wide. But from the outside, Detroit has allowed this to get far too close to opening night.
A bridge deal, a long-term deal - either way, the Red Wings need a resolution. Quickly.
In Other News...
Chris Ilitchs Red Wings Promises Already Look Shaky
When Chris Ilitch sat down for an interview, he tried to project stability around the Red Wings future, promising contract extensions for Simon Edvinsson and Alex DeBrincat while also saying the organizations hockey leaders had the freedom to run the team. It was the kind of message meant to calm a restless fan base and reinforce that the front office had a plan, even as frustration around the franchise has continued to build.
More than two weeks later, the follow-through has not matched the talk. Edvinsson has yet to sign and is practicing in Sweden, and DeBrincat also remains without an extension, leaving Ilitchs comments looking premature at best. Add in the broader unease around the teams direction and the poor results that have fed it, and the latest round of promises has only sharpened the scrutiny on how much control and clarity the Red Wings actually have. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Face A Brutal Simon Edvinsson Problem Before Opening Night
Simon Edvinssons offseason has taken an unusual turn for the Red Wings as the restricted free agent defenseman has headed back to Sweden to train with Frolunda ahead of the 2026-27 season. Edvinsson did report to Detroits training camp and took part in non-scrimmage drills, but he is not practicing with the club right now while contract negotiations remain unsettled.
Interim GM Shawn Horcoff said the organization will keep talking with Edvinsson and his representatives, which leaves the situation very much in play as opening night approaches. The shape of the deal is the real hang-up here, with Detroit weighing one direction and Edvinssons side favoring another, and the longer this drags on the more awkward the timing becomes for a player the Red Wings would clearly like to have on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Just Put A Familiar Voice In A Bigger Prospect Role
Dan Cleary is moving into a larger role inside the Red Wings organization, shifting from assistant director of player development to a new spot with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. He has been a familiar presence around the affiliate in recent seasons, so this is less a hard reset than a promotion for someone already familiar with the people and the pipeline.
The move gives the Griffins a steady voice at a time when the organization is reshuffling its front office, and it puts Cleary in a position where communication with young players will matter even more. He said he wants to keep the lines open and help players reach their goals, a fitting mandate for a team that sits right on the edge between prospect development and the Red Wings' next wave. [Read more 🡒]