Two Hockey Writers things: on Edvinsson’s next contract and NHL-ready prospects

Of note from the Hockey Writers’ Red Wings correspondents this morning:

1. Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson’s entry-level contract with the team expires next spring, and as such, the big defender is going to be the Wings’ most important restricted free agent a summer from now.

I’ve stated that my best guess as to where Edvinsson’s next contract will land is somewhere in the $6.5 million range, but the Hockey Writers’ Tony Wolak believes that Edvinsson will be a little more expensive to re-sign after posting 31 points with the Wings last season:

[E]ight years is the best outcome for the Red Wings. With K’Andre Miller, Bowen Byram, and Matt Roy as the top comparables, it suggested that the AAV should fall between $7.1 and $8.5 million. 

Miller recently signed for eight years at $8.5 million. Byram just signed for two years at $6.25 million. These two should give some indication as to what the short- and long-term contract options could look like.

That said, other contract extensions could influence Edvinsson’s next deal. For one, I don’t expect the Red Wings to let Edvinsson’s AAV surpass that of Moritz Seider ($8.55 million). 

Additionally, Edvinsson’s agent could reference Owen Power’s 2023 deal with the Buffalo Sabres. He signed for eight years at $8.35 million, which, based on cap hit percentage (9.49 percent), would be about $9.87 million when operating under a $104 million salary cap in 2026-27. New deals for Thomas Harley, Luke Hughes, and Lane Hutson could be used as anchoring points as well.

But as of now, an eight-year, $8.125 million AAV deal makes the most sense for Edvinsson. An impressive 2025-26 campaign could change that, though.

Continued; as Wolak suggests, the Red Wings and Edvinsson’s camp won’t feel that time is a big issue propelling negotiations given that Edvinsson has a big season ahead of him, but locking him up to an 8-year deal before the current CBA expires and teams are only allowed to ink their home-grown players to 7-year contracts will be a must.

Again, I don’t see Edvinsson commanding north of $7 million, but I’ve been wrong before….

2. And the Hockey Writers’ Devin Little has compiled a list of 5 Red Wings prospects who Little believes will be ready for at least short NHL stints this upcoming season:

(D) William Wallinder

A second round pick in the 2020 draft, William Wallinder hopes to follow in Albert Johansson’s footsteps as a defenseman that took a long road to arrive, but was a pleasant surprise once he did.

At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Wallinder is a big-bodied defender that has seen his role in Grand Rapids increase over his two full seasons in the AHL. With just 34 points in 128 games, he hasn’t exactly lit a fire offensively even though his offensive play was one of the reasons he was a highly-touted prospect in his draft class. Instead, his game has become more well-rounded as he has been able to play big minutes on both special teams units for the Griffins.

With a good training camp and a strong start to the season, Wallinder will position himself to be an early call-up if Detroit needs a body on the blue line. He did receive a brief call up right before Chirstmas last season (he did not play), so it goes to reason that the Red Wings’ front office views him as being within call-up range on the depth chart. If he can find another level this season, he will at least warrant consideration as the seventh-defenseman for the NHL club.

Given the Wings’ abundance of right-shot right defensemen, I believe that Wallinder may have to work full-time on transitioning to a left-side defenseman going forward, but I could see the steady defender earning a “cup of coffee” call-up with Detroit…

And this player may very well be ready after half a season spent in Grand Rapids:

(D) Axel Sandin Pellikka

Widely respected as the Red Wings’ top prospect, defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka is the epitome of a “modern-day NHL defenseman”, using his mobility and offensive instincts to keep the puck out of the defensive zone and moving in the right direction. The 2025-26 campaign will be his first full season in North America, and it may not be long before the calls to bring him up to Detroit begin.

The 20-year-old defenseman had 12 goals and 29 points in 46 games in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) last season, and then followed it up with another goal and eight points in 11 playoff games. Sandin Pellikka has the potential to become an offensive dynamo at the NHL level given his ability to read the play and move the puck. He can score when the opportunity presents itself, and his defensive play is in a good spot for someone considered to be a more offensive defenseman.

Sandin Pellikka will likely spend the early part of the season in the AHL with the Griffins. The jump from the SHL to North America is rarely easy (Lucas Raymond is the most recent Red Wings prospect to skip the AHL entirely), and the increased pace and physicality in the AHL should help the young defenseman get acclimated to his new surroundings. Once he gets comfortable, all bets are off as he should be pushing for NHL time shortly after.

Continued; I think that Sandin Pellikka is definitely going to need some time in Grand Rapids as he prepares to adapt to the North American ice surface (which is 85 feet wide instead of 100 feet wide in Europe) and pace of play, and his status as standing at 5’11” and 185 pounds is a bit of a concern as well…

But once he learns to stem his tendency to regroup and reset, and he finds his footing, his offensive abilities may shine through. The only question is whether the Red Wings will “slow-walk” his development as the season progresses.