Stan Bowman urged to make a bold move for star Red Wings defenseman despite major trade hurdle

Stan Bowman has a long shot worth taking, at least according to the Edmonton Journal.

Columnist Jim Matheson wrote that the Oilers GM should phone Detroit about Simon Edvinsson, the unhappy and unsigned young defenceman who is skating with Frolunda back in Sweden.

The timing makes sense. Elliotte Friedman reported last weekend that Edvinsson prefers a trade, though the Red Wings have told other teams that signing him is still their top goal.

Interim GM Shawn Horcoff, a former Oilers captain, is the man holding the phone.

Edvinsson is 23, stands 6-foot-6 and shoots left.

He logged more than 1,000 even-strength minutes beside Moritz Seider last season, and Detroit outscored opponents 50-38 when the pair shared the ice.

Here is the problem. Matheson doesn't see a clean one-for-one swap, so he figures Edmonton would need a three-part offer: a young winger, a defenceman whose salary can go back to make the cap work, and a top prospect or a 2028 first-round pick.

The Oilers don't own a 2027 first.

Ike Howard and Matt Savoie are floated as winger options, while Vasily Podkolzin is labelled a non-starter.

Evan Bouchard isn't going anywhere, so Jake Walman, who is 30 and earns $7 million per year, looks like the obvious salary piece.

Edmonton won't be alone either.

Matheson says the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks look like the hottest fits.

Then there's the contract.

Matheson suggests Edvinsson could command seven years at $10 million or more.

Detroit has missed the playoffs 10 years in a row, so the Wings can sell high.

Whether Bowman has enough to make them listen is another matter.

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