Simon Edvinsson leaves Detroit as contract stalemate escalates!

The Detroit Red Wings are just two days from dropping the puck on their 2026-27 campaign, but one of their most critical roster pieces will not be suiting up when the season begins Friday evening.

Restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson, still without a contract, has flown back to his native Sweden and is now skating with Frolunda. The move marks a significant escalation in what has been an increasingly tense standoff between the young defenseman and the organization.

The situation is particularly striking given how Edvinsson handled the early stages of the dispute. Despite lacking a signed deal, he reported to training camp and participated in non-scrimmage drills alongside his teammates.

"I don't see the reason for me to sit at home, to be honest," Edvinsson said earlier this month. "I think I would be stressed if I were back in Sweden now and I saw everybody else practicing. We are going into a new season where it's important that everybody is linked together."

"I don't know the expression, but everybody needs to be on the same page, and that was my reasoning to come over here," he added at the time.

That willingness to stay engaged apparently ran its course. Earlier this week, Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff acknowledged the shift in a brief statement.

"As of today, Simon is not practicing with the team. The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives."

It is believed that the core disagreement centers on contract length. The Red Wings are reportedly pushing for a bridge deal, while Edvinsson and his camp would prefer a longer commitment. Either side has officially confirmed none of those details.

The stakes are considerable for Detroit. Edvinsson, the sixth overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, has developed into the team's second most important blueliner behind Moritz Seider. Losing him from the lineup, even temporarily, creates a significant hole on the back end.

With the regular season opener now roughly 48 hours away, what was already a challenging negotiation has taken on added urgency. An already difficult situation just got harder for a Red Wings front office that can ill afford to start the year without one of its foundational young players.

I wonder if the two sides can bridge the gap before Edvinsson's absence starts costing Detroit points in the standings…