Simon Edvinsson’s Nashville workout has a lot more behind it than a simple training stop.
With the December 1 deadline closing in for him to sign a contract and play this season, the unsigned Swedish defenseman has been doing much of his conditioning in the Predators’ backyard. According to Nick Kieser via X, the reason is tied to a familiar face in the organization.
“Simon Edvinsson said a reason he came to Nashville for training was knowing Filip Forsberg. The #Preds forward recommended a local coach and has been here for the last 2 weeks.
The unsigned D-man said he’s still hoping for something to get done soon.”
Edvinsson has also been skating with Tim McAllister, a junior Preds coach. That alone does not mean the Predators are suddenly the favorites to land him, but it does put him around people connected to the organization while the situation continues to develop.
The bigger question is whether Nashville should pay the price Detroit is asking. Fan opinion has been split, especially with the reported ask centered around Michael Misa from the San Jose Sharks. There’s also concern about how much young talent Chris MacFarland would be willing to move.
From where I stand, MacFarland is shaping this roster in his own image, and he doesn’t look like someone who feels tied to players who arrived during the Barry Trotz era. What is clear is that he wants to reshape the blue line, and Edvinsson would fit that mission as a No. 2 defenseman with the chance to grow into a No. 1 behind Roman Josi.
So what would it take? If Detroit is pushing for a top young player like Misa, Brady Martin would seem like the most obvious piece in a Nashville package.
Martin’s upside is real, even if there are questions about whether he settles in as more than a middle-six winger. But in raw value, a future No. 1 defenseman carries more weight, even if Martin turns into a first-line winger.
A first-round pick would also have to be in the mix. If MacFarland believes in the direction of the team, Edvinsson is the kind of addition that could lift the ceiling. And in a 2027 draft class that is not viewed as especially strong, moving a pick that could land in the second half of the first round would not be a hard sell.
Edvinsson also has some leverage if Detroit wants to bring this to a close and collect assets. Any team trading for him would need him to agree to an extension, and if Nashville is where he wants to be, he could steer things that way.
For Detroit, the choice is straightforward: take the return or risk getting nothing if the deadline passes.
In Other News...
Predators Still Waiting On Bourque To Justify Their Offseason Bet
Mavrik Bourque arrived in Nashville as part of a trade built on future draft picks, the kind of move that usually asks for patience before it asks for payoff. The Predators have given him a new position and a new role to sort through, and through the early part of the season he has been trying to find his footing while adjusting to both.
The production has not followed yet, with Bourque still looking for his first goal and working to make a bigger impact in the middle six. The underlying numbers have also been less encouraging than they were in Dallas last season, which leaves Nashville waiting for the version of Bourque that made the bet feel worthwhile in the first place. [Read more 🡒]