Red Wings' Simon Edvinsson Contract Situation Becoming a Concern

Edvinsson isn’t just another player. The Red Wings selected him sixth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, and since then, the defenseman has developed into an important part of Detroit’s young core.

He recorded nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last season. He has continued to build himself up to become a major part of Detroit’s defense.

The 6-foot-6 defenseman is just 23 years old, and surely the best years are still ahead of him.

Edvinsson has expressed interest in remaining with the Red Wings long-term, so there really isn’t any reason for anyone to panic. This isn’t a dispute or a holdout, but training camp is getting closer, and a resolution does need to happen.

In roughly a month, players are going to be returning to get ready for the season. Edvinsson remains without a contract while the organization seems to be taking its time searching for the person who will ultimately make its biggest hockey decisions.

At some point, the prolonged GM search is going to become a risk to other parts of the team.

Edvinsson Should Be Priority

Regardless of the direction the future GM decides to take this team, Edvinsson should be a part of it.

Detroit has spent years building a young core, including Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Edvinsson. Seider and Raymond already have eight-year contract extensions in hand. They were signed in 2024 and made out to be long-term pillars of this franchise.

Edvinsson should be next.

The question will be whether Detroit goes with a similar long-term commitment or makes a shorter bridge just to get a deal done.

Edvinsson’s previous contract carried a $894,167 salary cap hit so everyone can expect a substantial raise is coming, no matter what the structure of the deal is.

Just because Detroit holds the rights to Edvinsson doesn’t stop him from signing an offer sheet from another team, either. Detroit would have the first opportunity to match the offer, though. So, time is of the essence here.

There is still time to get the deal done before training camp starts, and nothing about Edvinsson or his agent’s comments has indicated that he is looking for a way out of Detroit.

There is reason for urgency here, though. Detroit needs to get the deal done.