Simon Edvinsson Has Returned to North America

The Simon Edvinsson saga in Detroit has been one of the more frustrating storylines to follow this fall. A young, talented defenseman stuck in contract limbo with a Red Wings organization that can't seem to get a deal done, and now we've got a new wrinkle that has fans buzzing. A photo posted to Instagram by Edvinsson's mother showed the 23-year-old traveling with his hockey gear, captioned with a simple "best of luck." Naturally, the hockey world ran with it.

Back on This Side of the Pond

Before anyone gets too excited, let's pump the brakes just a little. Edvinsson is indeed back in North America, but it's not because a contract has been hammered out or a trade has been finalized. According to multiple reports, the former sixth-overall pick has returned to train with a well-regarded trainer on the East Coast, a move arranged by his agency to keep him sharp while the standoff with Detroit continues. TSN's Chris Johnston confirmed on Insider Trading that Edvinsson wanted to work with a trainer in North America that he's comfortable with.

That said, Johnston did note that the fact Edvinsson is willing to come back across the Atlantic "does symbolize some good things." It's not a breakthrough, but it's not nothing either. The young blueliner attended Detroit's training camp earlier this fall in a good faith gesture, hoping a deal would materialize before the regular season got underway. When that didn't happen, he headed back to Sweden in frustration, and reports surfaced that he'd prefer a trade out of Detroit. Neither the player nor the organization has publicly confirmed that, but the tension has been palpable.

The clock is very much ticking here. Edvinsson has until December 1st to sign a new contract if he wants to suit up in the NHL this season. That's less than two months away, and the two sides still appear to be a significant distance apart on terms.

The Contract Gap and Trade Chatter

Here's where things get interesting from a numbers perspective. The Red Wings have reportedly moved off their initial desire for a bridge deal and recently presented Edvinsson with a six-year offer worth approximately $8.5 million per season. That offer was rejected. If Detroit ultimately agrees to a seven-year term, the expectation is that his salary would land somewhere around $11 million annually. That's a pretty substantial gap between the two sides, and it explains why this has dragged on as long as it has.

Meanwhile, interim GM Shawn Horcoff is walking a tightrope. He's been fielding calls from interested teams while simultaneously telling those clubs that his priority remains getting Edvinsson signed. The list of suitors is reportedly a strong one, with the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Utah Mammoth all expressing interest in the young defenseman. That kind of league-wide demand makes sense when you look at what Edvinsson brought to the table last season: nine goals, 25 points in 72 games, and over 22 minutes of average ice time per night.

Edvinsson's return to North America keeps the door open for things to move quickly if either side budges. Whether that means a signed contract in Detroit or a trade to one of those interested teams remains to be seen, but the situation feels like it's approaching a tipping point. With every passing week, the December 1st deadline looms larger, and the pressure on both Edvinsson's camp and the Red Wings front office only intensifies.