Six teams after Simon Edvinsson including Leafs and Bruins

The Detroit Red Wings have a serious situation developing with one of the most important young defensemen in their organization, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to see how the Simon Edvinsson saga ends without some sort of major development.

Edvinsson, who was selected sixth overall by Detroit in the 2021 NHL Draft, remains an unsigned restricted free agent after the expiration of his entry-level contract. The 23-year-old has reportedly become frustrated with the prolonged negotiations and now prefers a trade from the Red Wings.

That doesn't necessarily mean a trade is imminent. In fact, Detroit continues to maintain that its priority is getting Edvinsson signed. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has made that position clear, while the Red Wings have reportedly increased their contract offer and moved away from their original preference for a short-term bridge deal. Detroit has even presented longer-term options, including a reported six-year offer worth approximately $8.5 million per season.

The problem is that the two sides still appear to be significantly apart financially. Reports have suggested Edvinsson could be looking for something in the neighborhood of $11 million annually on a long-term contract, which would put him considerably above Detroit's current offer.

And that is where the trade speculation becomes particularly interesting.

NHL insider David Pagnotta reported earlier this week that several teams have been keeping an eye on the situation, with the Seattle Kraken and Philadelphia Flyers among the clubs generating particular curiosity. Pagnotta also identified the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins as teams that have expressed varying degrees of interest in Edvinsson.

Seattle could be an intriguing destination because the Kraken have the opportunity to add a massive, mobile young defenseman who could become a foundational piece of their blue line. Philadelphia is another fascinating option, especially considering the Flyers' desire to continue building around their younger core. Edvinsson's combination of size, skating ability and puck-moving skills would give either team a legitimate top-four option with top-pairing upside.

Toronto, meanwhile, is an obvious name whenever a high-end defenseman becomes available. The Maple Leafs have invested heavily in veteran defensemen, but adding a 23-year-old of Edvinsson's caliber would give them a much different timeline on the blue line. St. Louis could also make sense if the Blues decide they need to inject more youth into their defense corps, while Nashville has the prospect capital and organizational resources to make an aggressive move.

Boston may be particularly interesting as well. The Bruins have undergone significant changes to their roster and could view Edvinsson as the type of young defenseman capable of anchoring their blue line for years.

Of course, there is one massive complication: Detroit doesn't actually want to trade him.

The Red Wings have reportedly been gauging Edvinsson's market, but their preference remains to find a way to keep him. And considering his age, draft pedigree and NHL trajectory, it is understandable why Detroit would be reluctant to give up on him.

Edvinsson is coming off a season in which he recorded nine goals and 25 points in 72 games while taking on a much larger role on Detroit's blue line.

Still, every day that passes without an agreement increases the pressure on the Red Wings. If Edvinsson remains unwilling to accept Detroit's contract structure, and if the organization concludes that the relationship has deteriorated too far, the six teams mentioned by Pagnotta could suddenly find themselves in a very interesting bidding war.

For now, Detroit is saying it wants to sign Edvinsson. But with Seattle, Philadelphia, Toronto, St. Louis, Nashville and Boston reportedly watching closely, the Red Wings may eventually have to decide whether keeping their young defenseman is worth paying the enormous price it could take to make that happen.