Simon Edvinsson Will Show Up to Red Wings Camp Without a Contract, But There's a Catch

The Detroit Red Wings have had one of the more chaotic offseasons in recent memory, and as training camp rapidly approaches, the franchise still has some pretty significant loose ends to tie up. One of those loose ends involves a 23-year-old Swedish defenseman who has quickly become a cornerstone of the team's blue line. But according to the latest reports, at least one piece of the puzzle is falling into place, even if it comes with a notable caveat.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported on Monday that restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson plans to attend Detroit's training camp later this month despite not having a new contract in place. That's the good news. The not-so-good news? Negotiations on a new deal are essentially frozen, and the reason has nothing to do with the player or his camp.

The GM Void Is Holding Everything Up

Edvinsson's agent, Peter Werner of CAA, has made it clear that contract discussions are on pause until the Red Wings finalize their search for a permanent general manager. That search has been ongoing since Steve Yzerman stepped away from the GM role on July 15, transitioning into a senior advisor position with the organization. In the interim, assistant GM Shawn Horcoff has been managing day-to-day operations, but his authority appears limited. Horcoff has reportedly been held back from making any significant roster moves, including trades of NHL assets.

That front office uncertainty has created a ripple effect across the organization. It's reportedly a factor in why captain Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade after the 2025-26 season, hasn't been moved yet. And now it's the primary reason one of the team's most important young players is heading into camp without a deal.

The Wings did tender Edvinsson a qualifying offer of $874,125 before free agency to preserve his restricted free agent rights, so there's no risk of losing him outright. But the clock is ticking. If both sides want to work out a maximum-term eight-year extension, they only have until mid-September to get it done under CBA rules.

To make things even more interesting, the Red Wings recently got clarity on one GM candidate who won't be taking the job. Tigers GM Jeff Greenberg informed the organization on September 7 that he would not be pursuing the position. Camp opens on September 17, and the franchise still doesn't have its top hockey executive in place.

What Could a New Deal Look Like?

Edvinsson was selected sixth overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft and has developed into a legitimate top-four defenseman. After spending two productive seasons with AHL Grand Rapids, he made the full-time jump to the NHL in 2024-25 and immediately showed he belonged. That rookie campaign saw him post 31 points in 78 games while logging over 21 minutes per night.

Last season, his offensive numbers dipped slightly to nine goals and 25 points in 72 games, but his role actually expanded. He averaged a career-high 22:21 of ice time per contest, second on the team only to fellow blueliner Moritz Seider. He also finished with a respectable plus-12 rating. Over 175 career NHL games, Edvinsson has accumulated 19 goals and 41 assists for 60 points.

The contract comparables are where things get really interesting. Seider signed a seven-year, $59.85 million extension ($8.55 million AAV) coming off his own entry-level deal. At the time of that signing, Seider's cap hit represented roughly 9.72% of the salary cap ceiling. With the upper limit having risen since then, that same percentage would translate to about $10.1 million in today's dollars. While Edvinsson isn't quite at Seider's level, his camp certainly has leverage to argue for comparable money. Analytics projections have pegged a potential seven-year deal at around $8.77 million per season.

There's also the Bowen Byram comparable to consider. The former fourth overall pick recently signed an extension with the Chicago Blackhawks carrying a $12.5 million cap hit. As a sixth overall selection himself, Edvinsson's camp could point to that deal as further evidence that the market for young, top-drafted defensemen has shifted upward.

While Edvinsson is technically eligible for an offer sheet as an RFA, his willingness to wait patiently for the GM situation to resolve suggests he's not exploring that route. That should provide some comfort to the organization. Still, the Red Wings can't afford to have one of their top workhorses sitting out when the season begins. Whoever lands the GM job in Detroit will have a full plate waiting for them, and getting Edvinsson locked up long-term should be right at the top of the to-do list.