Simon Edvinsson trade rumors take a new turn after interested team's admission
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Simon Edvinsson's holdout may end in a trade, and one interested team told David Pagnotta it doesn't have enough to land him.
Simon Edvinsson's contract standoff with the Detroit Red Wings may be heading toward one ending.
According to David Pagnotta on the DFO Insider, a team that has inquired about the 23-year-old defenseman believes this will end in a trade.
That same team doesn't think it has enough to get him.
"One team that I spoke to yesterday who has inquired about this player, but they don't believe they have enough to get him. They told me, this individual with this team, told me that they believe this will end in a trade. That's their belief."
- David Pagnotta
- David Pagnotta
That detail matters because it suggests suitors are already planning around Edvinsson leaving Detroit, even if the price is keeping some of them on the outside.
Why the price is so steep
Edvinsson is an unsigned restricted free agent, and the sixth overall pick in 2021 has until Dec. 1 to sign if he wants to play in the NHL this season.
Pagnotta reported on Oct. 14 that he is asking for around $11 million per year on a seven-year deal.
Moritz Seider is Detroit's highest-paid defenseman at an $8.55 million cap hit, so the gap is significant.
Any team that lands Edvinsson would be paying twice, once in assets and once on the cap.
Pierre LeBrun has reported that at least 10 teams have checked in, with Boston among them.
Where the Red Wings stand
Elliotte Friedman has reported that Edvinsson prefers a trade.
Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has said publicly that trading him isn't something he is entertaining and that the goal is to sign him.
Edvinsson and his agent, J.P. Barry, met face to face with Horcoff last weekend, per LeBrun, but no deal is in place.
Horcoff also has Dylan Larkin's trade request to deal with, which leaves Detroit juggling two major situations while the Dec. 1 deadline gets closer.
If Edvinsson isn't signed by then, he can't play in the NHL this season, and that pressure applies to everyone involved.
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