It’s been a rough stretch in Detroit, and Simon Edvinsson’s stalled contract situation has only added to the noise. The left-shot defenseman is back home in Sweden while the Red Wings wait for an answer, and Elliotte Friedman reported the situation may be trending more toward a trade than a long-term extension.
That leaves Detroit in an awkward spot. The organization passed on moving Edvinsson in a Quinn Hughes deal, and now it could be staring at the possibility of losing him for a far smaller return. If the Red Wings do decide to move him, there are a few teams that could put together a package strong enough to get their attention.
Boston is one of the clearest fits. The Bruins have reportedly shown interest, and the hockey logic checks out.
Charlie McAvoy has typically been at his best with a high-end partner, something he hasn’t really had since Zdeno Chara left. Matt Grzelcyk was his most reliable fit before moving on, and last season McAvoy spent most of the year with AHL veteran Jonathan Aspirot.
The Bruins may be reluctant to move someone like James Hagens or Fraser Minten, but there are still paths to a deal. Dean Letourneau could be in play, while Mason Lohrei has looked better in his first three games this season than he has ever looked.
Boston could also dangle 22-year-old center Matthew Poitras, who might settle into a middle-six role down the line. The Bruins also still have some first-round picks available after dealing two of them for JJ Peterka.
Toronto is another team to watch. John Chayka has been aggressive since taking over as general manager of the Maple Leafs, and after acquiring Kirill Marchenko before the regular season opener, he may not be finished. The Leafs don’t have a loaded prospect pool, and some have already questioned the decision to move their top trade chip, Matthew Knies, for another winger instead of a top-four defenseman.
Even so, Toronto does have a few appealing names. The question is whether the Maple Leafs would be willing to part with Easton Cowan and/or Ben Danford to make something happen, and that seems doubtful after the start Cowan has put together. Still, the fit is obvious enough for some to believe Edvinsson could be the kind of defenseman Toronto has lacked for a long time.
Then there’s Minnesota, which brings a different angle entirely. Instead of the Red Wings trying to pry away assets for Edvinsson, the Wild could eventually revisit the Quinn Hughes path. Bill Guerin took a major swing by acquiring one of the league’s top defensemen without an extension in place, and the clock is ticking toward July 1.
Guerin may be willing to ride it out, especially with Minnesota off to a strong start. But if Edvinsson remains unsigned later in the year and the Wild decide to change course, they could try to move Hughes and recoup some of the value they gave up in the original deal. That remains a long shot, but it’s at least on the board.
One complication remains the same no matter where this goes: Edvinsson has to sign before December 1 to play this season. That makes it hard for Guerin to act too quickly, even if Minnesota does decide to get involved.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkins Return Came With A Reality Red Wings Fans Cant Ignore
Dylan Larkins return to the Red Wings lineup after missing two games with an upper-body injury gave Detroit a familiar jolt, even if the circumstances around him remain anything but simple. He had already been through a summer trade request, and the noise around that decision has not faded, but he was back on the ice and helped the Red Wings beat the Ottawa Senators 5-3 with the kind of night Detroit needs from one of its most important players.
The return also came with a reminder that the situation is still uncomfortable for everyone involved. Larkin heard boos from fans and took some chirping from opponents, but he said his focus is on playing and helping the team win until a trade happens. For now, the Red Wings are getting production from a player whose future has been a topic all season, and that reality is hard for their fans to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Fans Got A Response That Only Deepened The Frustration
The early-season mood around Little Caesars Arena has already turned sour, and Chris Ilitch tried to meet that frustration head-on with a letter posted on LinkedIn. After a 1-2 start, Red Wings fans have made their displeasure clear with chants to sell the team and boos directed at captain Dylan Larkin, and the organization is now leaning on promotions to help fill the building while the noise around the club keeps growing.
What made the response land so awkwardly is what it left unsaid. Ilitchs note addressed the frustration, but it did not touch on Steve Yzermans removal or the ongoing search for a new general manager, and the questions around the front office are only getting louder as the situation around top defenseman Simon Edvinsson adds another layer of uncertainty for a team already trying to calm its fan base. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin's Return Gave The Red Wings Something They Desperately Needed
Dylan Larkins first game back gave the Red Wings the jolt they had been waiting for. Detroit looked more composed from the start in its home meeting with Ottawa, staying out of early penalty trouble and playing with the kind of urgency that had been missing during a winless stretch that dragged on for nearly six months. Alex DeBrincat led the way offensively with three points, and head coach Todd McLellan had plenty of reason to like the way his team responded around its captains return.
Larkin made the kind of immediate impact Detroit needed, scoring in a game the Red Wings controlled on the way to a 5-2 victory. It was the teams first lead of the season, a small but meaningful marker for a club trying to reset its tone after a frustrating start. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-night spark or the beginning of the Red Wings finally finding the steady play they have been searching for. [Read more 🡒]