The Detroit Red Wings may be staring at a very different kind of contract problem with Simon Edvinsson. What once looked like a short-term deal in the works has apparently shifted, and according to Elliotte Friedman, Edvinsson’s preference is now a trade rather than a new contract.
That’s a sharp turn from where things seemed to be headed earlier in the offseason. There were rumblings that a short-term agreement was close before Steve Yzerman was removed as general manager, and once that happened, the process stalled.
The Red Wings then went two months before naming an interim GM, and all the while nothing moved forward on Edvinsson’s side. He eventually went back to Sweden and skated with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League.
The money could get uncomfortable in a hurry, too. With Zeev Buium’s $9.38 million annual salary setting a strong baseline, Edvinsson could be staring at an eight-digit contract if he stays put and signs long term.
In Vancouver, Elias Pettersson is giving the Canucks something they badly needed: reasons to believe the story could still change. Pettersson’s slide has been dramatic - 191 points over one two-season stretch, then only 96 over the last two seasons - and that kind of drop has fueled plenty of trade chatter.
The Canucks, meanwhile, have been stripping down the roster around him, moving out valuable pieces like Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Conor Garland, and others.
They’ve tried to deal Pettersson before, but haven’t found a return they liked.
So far this season, though, Pettersson has come out hot. Through three games, he has two goals and five points, and his 16 hits lead the league.
It’s only a three-game sample, but if he starts looking like the elite player Vancouver once had, the Canucks suddenly have options again. They could chase a strong package of players, picks, and prospects.
Or they could keep him, banking on his age and upside to help speed up the rebuild.
Ottawa, meanwhile, is already dealing with familiar blue-line headaches. The Senators went deep into last season leaning heavily on depth defensemen as they chased a playoff spot in the final weeks, and now they’re beginning the 2026-27 season without two key names.
Artem Zub is still recovering from the lower-body injury he suffered in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes after delivering a heavy hit, and there’s no timeline for his return. Jake Sanderson was injured during training camp, then lasted just four minutes in the season opener before leaving and not returning.
The situation doesn’t sound especially severe for Sanderson, but if Ottawa is forced to navigate life without both of its top defensemen, a move could be coming. The Senators do have depth, and last season some players handled larger roles better than expected even when they probably shouldn’t have been in them.
If that group can keep things together, Ottawa can stay patient. If not, the trade market becomes much more interesting.
The Senators have already been connected to defensemen such as Rasmus Ristolainen and Colton Parayko. And with Edvinsson now reportedly wanting out, that’s another name that could land on their radar.
In Other News...
Flames Loss In Vancouver Exposed A Familiar Problem Again
Vancouvers win over Calgary had the kind of hard-edged, scrappy feel that tends to reveal a teams habits as much as it rewards them. The Canucks leaned into a physical, patchy game and got important work from Leevi Merilinen in goal, where his calm, effective presence helped steady things when the pace got choppy. Schenn and others brought the sort of straight-ahead physicality that can tilt a matchup like this, especially when both sides are grinding for every loose puck.
Still, the game also looked familiar in one area the Canucks would probably rather not revisit. Even with the result going their way, the power play struggled badly throughout the night, and it remained the one part of the performance that did not match the rest of the effort. For a team trying to build on wins like this, the frustration is that the margin for error gets thinner when a familiar weakness keeps showing up in the same moments. [Read more 🡒]
Elias Pettersson Looked Like A Difference-Maker Again In Canucks Win
The Canucks got what they needed in a 4-1 win over the Flames, and Elias Pettersson was in the middle of it again. The center not only picked up an assist, he also led Vancouver in hits, a reminder that his value stretches well beyond the scoring sheet when the game gets heavy.
Behind him, the night also brought a milestone in goal, with Leevi Merilinen earning his first win in Vancouver after stopping 23 shots. Luke Schenn added the kind of physical presence and leadership the Canucks often lean on in divisional games, helping set the tone in a matchup that had plenty of edge from the opening shift. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Let A New Canucks Goalie Settle In Too Easily
Leevi Merilainen did not need long to make himself at home in Vancouver. Claimed off waivers from Ottawa late last month, the 22-year-old got his first start for the Canucks and turned in a calm, poised effort in a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames, stopping 23 shots while drawing praise from teammates and coach Manny Malhotra. It was exactly the kind of settling-in performance Vancouver was hoping for from a goalie still early in his new opportunity.
Merilainen had already logged 12 NHL games with the Senators in 2024-25, but this one felt like an important first impression in a different sweater. Calgary did not make it easy, yet the newcomer never looked rattled, and the Canucks were able to build around that steadiness as the night went on. For a club that is always watching its goaltending depth closely, this was the sort of debut that invites a longer look. [Read more 🡒]