The Nashville Predators are in the mix for Simon Edvinsson, and the fit is obvious on paper. A 6-foot-6, two-way defenseman with real upside doesn’t come around often, and at 23, he’d be the kind of addition that could change the shape of a blue line fast.
But that kind of swing comes with a price. Edvinsson has plenty of buzz, yet he still hasn’t proven he can handle No. 1 defenseman duties on his own.
It’s one thing to look good next to Moritz Seider; it’s another to be the driver of the pairing. If Nashville is serious, the gamble would be as much about belief as production.
The asking price sounds steep enough to force a real decision. There’s been enough smoke around what the San Jose Sharks were reportedly willing to part with - including a name like Michael Misa - to suggest Detroit would want one of a team’s best young assets. For Nashville, that means a prospect like Brady Martin could be in play if the Predators want to lock in a defender of Edvinsson’s caliber.
That’s where the roster math gets interesting. Nashville’s strength is up front, which gives them some flexibility if a deal requires one of Martin, Wyatt Cullen, or even Yegor Surin. The recent addition of Shane Wright only adds to that center depth, making the forward group a little easier to deal from if the right trade is there.
From Nashville’s perspective, the appeal goes beyond this season. Edvinsson would give the Predators an immediate boost, and he’d also fit into a future blue line that already includes Tommy Bleyl, Tanner Molendyk, Cameron Reid, and Jacob Womback. With Jayden Struble added and Brady Skjei on the trade block, the Predators are clearly trying to rework that part of the roster.
One wrinkle in all of this: whether Detroit would prefer a defense prospect instead of a forward in return. If Nashville could keep Martin, Cullen, and Surin out of the deal and still land Edvinsson, that would be a huge win. But if the Red Wings want a blue-line piece back, the Predators could be forced into a tougher call.
Edvinsson’s presence in Nashville also turned heads. According to Predators EBUG Dustin Smith’s Instagram, the defenseman has been in town working out, skating with a former Predators practice goalie. That doesn’t mean a move is guaranteed, and his agency being based in Nashville doesn’t make him a lock for the organization either.
Still, the clock is ticking. Edvinsson remains unsigned by the Red Wings, and with the December 1 deadline approaching, something has to give soon.
In Other News...
Predators Fans Finally Have A Clearer Read On Yegor Surin
Yegor Surins path to Nashville is starting to come into focus after a stretch of uncertainty around when the Predators might actually get him in the fold. The young forward has been playing in the KHL, and agent Dan Milstein said there is now a clearer expectation that Surin will sign with and join the Predators once the current year wraps up.
For Predators fans, the bigger picture is the timeline that comes with it. Milstein has been upbeat about Surins upside, pointing to his development and physical tools as reasons to believe he can eventually matter in Nashville, even if the wait is still a long one. For now, the organization at least has a better sense of where the next step begins, and the anticipation is building around when his NHL arrival might finally happen. [Read more 🡒]
Predators May Have Found An Early Difference-Maker In Adam Edstrom
The Predators have gotten an early jolt from Adam Edstrom, whose arrival has quickly started to look like more than just a depth move. Since coming over from the Rangers, he has carved out a steady role in Nashvilles lineup and has become a useful piece on the penalty kill while also adding timely offense.
What has stood out is how seamlessly Edstrom has fit alongside fellow offseason additions Jack Drury and Ross Colton, giving the Predators a line that has brought both energy and production. For a team always looking for reliable two-way help up front, his early impact has been hard to miss, and it has only added to the sense that Nashville may have found an immediate difference-maker. [Read more 🡒]
Predators Get A Huge Avalanche Test With Lineup Intrigue Building
The Predators head into Thursday nights matchup with Colorado carrying a little momentum and a lot of intrigue. Nashville has won two straight, and the visit from the Avalanche offers an early measuring stick against one of the teams it is chasing in the division. With a tough stretch still ahead, this is the kind of game that can tell the Predators plenty about where they stand.
The lineup picture is still unsettled, with Jonathan Marchessault working his way back from injury and Nicolas Hagues status also in the mix. Marchessault was the only Nashville player not on the ice for practice Wednesday, leaving the Predators with at least one notable question as they try to put together their best group for a matchup that could reshape the standings race. [Read more 🡒]