The Maple Leafs may not be done shopping, and Simon Edvinsson’s situation in Detroit gives them another possible opening.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday Headlines on Saturday Night Hockey that Edvinsson would prefer a trade rather than sign an extension. The Red Wings defender is a restricted free agent, and a new contract does not look close. That kind of news is exactly the sort of thing Toronto general manager John Chayka has been waiting for.
Toronto already made noise with the Kirill Marchenko trade, but TSN’s Chris Johnston said afterward the Leafs are being “patiently aggressive”.
“The Leafs feel even after giving up Matthew Knies, who they viewed as their best young trade chip, that they still have other futures that they can move for ‘help now’ solutions,” Johnston said on Insider Trading. “That includes the first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche and some young prospects. I think they’ll be looking to upgrade even in these early days of the season.
“One area to keep an eye on is their defence,” Johnston added. “They did have to include Emil Andrae in a reworked version of that Knies-Marchenko trade. So, they do have perhaps an opening there for another addition at some point here in the future.”
That opening could now point straight at Edvinsson. If Toronto wants to land him, Chayka could pursue a trade and then sign him, the way the Leafs did with Marchenko.
An offer sheet is another route, but that carries risk: the Red Wings could match it and Toronto would be left empty-handed. There’s also the question of whether the Leafs have the right draft-pick compensation available if Detroit declines to match a high enough deal.
The first-round pick Toronto got in the Nicolas Roy trade from the Colorado Avalanche is in play, and Ben Danford also looks like a possible piece in a package. Another prospect or even a roster player could be part of the return as well. Whatever the final cost, Edvinsson would be a strong target for a team still looking to add.
He’s only beginning to show what he can become. The sixth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft has 60 points in 175 games, and the appeal goes well beyond the numbers. His frame, skating and offensive ability make him one of the more intriguing young defenders available.
At 6-foot-6 and 222 pounds, Edvinsson brings size, mobility and a heavy shot. He can play physically, handle rush chances and get pucks on net. He’s the kind of two-way, mobile defenseman teams chase.
Toronto also wants more mobility after adding Darren Raddysh, and Edvinsson fits that direction cleanly. He could step into a second-pairing role right away, though that would force other players down the depth chart.
If a player with this kind of upside becomes available, Toronto has to be in the conversation. Chayka still has assets to work with, and this latest development gives the Leafs another chance to act.
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