Simon Edvinsson’s contract situation remains the biggest storyline out of the Atlantic notes, and it took an unusual turn when the 23-year-old went back to Sweden after starting training camp without a deal. Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff told reporters including Helene St.
James of the Detroit Free Press that Edvinsson’s choice to head home caught him off guard. Horcoff didn’t get into the details, but he did say the club is doing everything it can to get the defender signed.
The shape of the negotiation appears clear enough. Detroit has the cap room, but the team is believed to prefer a bridge deal, while Edvinsson’s camp is pushing for something longer in line with the market for young defensemen that has shifted in recent months. With December 1st serving as the hard deadline to get a contract in place for the season, this one still has plenty of runway.
There’s better news in Florida. Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling is expected to play tomorrow in Anaheim after being a late scratch in Thursday’s loss to San Jose, according to NHL.com’s Max Miller.
Forsling was dealing with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. He opened the season by scoring the game-winning, and only, goal on Tuesday and was skating on the top pair in that game, so getting him back is a real boost.
In Tampa, two key forwards are making progress. Lightning centers Dominic James and Yanni Gourde both took part in today’s morning skate as they continue recovering from a hand injury and a hip injury, respectively, team reporter Benjamin Pierce noted.
Gourde wore a non-contact jersey, which fits with the injury and with the fact that he seems to be ahead of schedule. His current timeline points to an early December return, but skating now gives him a chance to beat that.
James was initially expected to miss the first couple of weeks, and his return to the ice suggests he remains on track.
In Other News...
Panthers Waste Strong Night In A Loss That Will Frustrate Fans
A strong territorial performance still left Florida empty-handed Monday night, as the Panthers fell 3-2 to the Ducks in overtime despite doing plenty of the driving at even strength. They outshot Anaheim and controlled much of the flow, but the night kept slipping away in the margins, where special teams tilted the outcome and turned a solid road effort into a frustrating loss.
Brad Marchand gave Florida the lift it needed with his first goal of the season to pull the Panthers level late in regulation, setting up a chance to finish the comeback. Instead, the power play never delivered for Florida, going 0-for-4, while Anaheim cashed in repeatedly with the extra skater and eventually found the finish it needed to put the Panthers in a familiar kind of sting. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Face A Costly Barkov Question They Cant Ignore
Aleksander Barkovs injury has put the Panthers in an all-too-familiar midseason holding pattern, with the captain expected to miss some time while an MRI is set to help clarify the full extent of the issue. Any absence for Barkov changes the look of Floridas center depth and forces the front office to at least consider how much strain it can absorb before needing outside help.
NHL Networks Elliotte Friedman added a new layer to the conversation by floating Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin as a potential name if Barkovs situation drags on, but the idea comes with a significant hurdle. Detroit is not interested in a rebuild and would want a player who can help right away in return, which makes any serious pursuit a complicated match for Florida if it ever gets that far. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Face An Early Blue Line Test
The Panthers blue line is already being asked to adjust early in the season, with Aaron Ekblad set to miss Sundays game against the Anaheim Ducks because of an undisclosed injury. Florida will get Gustav Forsling back after he sat out the previous game against the San Jose Sharks, which at least gives the defense group one familiar piece back as the schedule keeps moving.
Paul Maurice also confirmed Brad Marchand will make his 2026-27 season debut, adding another notable layer to the days roster news. Between the turnover on defense and the addition of a player many around the team have been waiting to see in game action, the Panthers have a little more sorting out to do than they did a night ago. [Read more 🡒]