Detroit’s contract stalemate with Simon Edvinsson has spilled past training camp and into the regular season, and the defenseman is no longer skating with the Red Wings. Swedish reporter Andreas III Johnsson reported that Edvinsson has gone back to Sweden to train with SHL club Frölunda HC.
The situation has dragged on through restricted free agency, with the hold-up apparently coming down to term. Detroit wants a short bridge deal, while Edvinsson is pushing for a long-term contract. That’s a messy spot for a player who, by the source report’s assessment, is already the club’s second-best defenseman behind Moritz Seider.
There is, however, at least some sign the two sides are still moving. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Edvinsson’s return to Sweden was not meant as a slight toward the Red Wings.
Instead, it’s about staying in game shape while the contract gets finished. LeBrun also said the team and player continue to work daily toward a new deal.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could be back at practice today, according to Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald. The 26-year-old has been dealing with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in preseason, though he was never expected to miss much, if any, regular-season time. Samuelsson is coming off his best year, when he put up 13 goals and 41 points in 78 games.
The New York Rangers, meanwhile, have placed forward Adam Sykora on season-opening injured reserve, as expected, according to Vince Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic. Sykora had been in the mix for an opening-night roster spot, but a right knee injury is expected to sideline him for four to five months.
In Other News...
Rangers Got A Feel-Good Night But One Goalie Concern Just Grew
Igor Shesterkin turned a routine win into a memorable one Tuesday night, becoming the first Rangers goalie to score a goal by sending the puck into an empty net in a 5-1 victory over Tampa Bay. New York also got an early lift from Mika Zibanejad and saw first goals with the club from Pavel Dorofeyev and Eeli Tolvanen, a collection of contributions that made it one of those nights when the goals kept coming from everywhere.
Shesterkin was sharp in his own end too, stopping 24 of 25 shots, but the bigger-picture note for the Rangers came on the backup side of the ledger. With Joonas Korpisalo injured, the teams goalie depth is being tested at a time when the schedule keeps moving, and Dylan Garand is now positioned to take the next start Friday night in Detroit. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper Sends Lightning An Early Warning They Can't Ignore
Jon Cooper did not wait long to send a message after Tampa Bays season opener against the Rangers, sounding far more concerned with the way his team played than with the final score alone. The Lightning opened at 0-1-0 after a 5-1 loss, and while there were some underlying numbers that could be viewed more favorably, Coopers tone suggested the issues ran deeper than a bad night in October.
For the Rangers, it was an opening win that looked increasingly convincing as Tampa Bays frustration grew. Cooper tied his critique to the kind of playoff shortcomings the Lightning have been trying to move past, and the next chance to reset comes quickly against the Washington Capitals. The early warning is clear enough, but whether Tampa Bay treats it that way is the real question now. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Home Opener Delivered The Reset Fans Needed
The home opener gave the Rangers a needed jolt after the frustration of their previous game, and the return to Madison Square Garden brought a more settled look right away. New York handled Tampa Bay with early offense and a cleaner overall start, getting goals from Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Dorofeyev before Eeli Tolvanen added another in the second period to help set the tone.
There was also movement in the roster before puck drop, with Dylan Garand rejoining the team as Joonas Korpisalo went on injured reserve. Jaroslav Chmelar made his season debut as part of the lineup shuffle, a reminder that the opening weeks can still be about sorting out roles as much as banking points. For a Rangers group looking to steady itself, the night offered a more encouraging reset, even if the deeper question is how long this version can hold. [Read more 🡒]