Updated with Khan at 4:48 PM: Red Wings restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson showed up for training camp without a contract, and as such, he’s not participating in full-contact scrimmages, but Edvinsson is optimistic about being ready for and under contract during the 2026-2027 regular season.
Edvinsson spoke with the media about his situation on Friday, including the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan…
“I don’t see the reason for me to sit at home,” Edvinsson said Friday, Sept. 18, after a workout. “We are going into a new season and (it’s important) everyone is linked together. Everybody needs to be on the same page. That’s my reasoning to come over here.”
The fact Edvinsson chose to get to Detroit and participate in training camp spoke volumes to coach Todd McLellan.
“He could be at home, waiting and skating, and he’s going to be well conditioned,” McLellan said. “But he wanted to come over and be with his teammates. He’s involved. He’s not signed right now but it’s not his fault. We haven’t had a lot of ability in the organization to get that stuff done. Give him credit, he’s come over and now it’s time for our organization to work fast with him and fair.”
The Wings named Shawn Horcoff interim GM earlier this week, replacing Steve Yzerman, who was removed from the post in mid-July. Horcoff took over day-to-day operations at that point, but didn’t have the power to negotiate deals.
Horcoff does have that authority now, and he’s working with Edvinsson’s representation on getting something done before the Oct. 2 start to the regular season. Edvinsson is patiently waiting for the discussions to prove beneficial.
“I hope so, that’s all I can say,” said Edvinsson, as to whether he’s optimistic a new contract can be reached before the season begins. “I hope so. We talk. I don’t know where we are at right now (in negotiations), but we talk.
“I would be more stressed if I was back in Sweden and you see everyone else practicing. But I feel good. I’m in good shape, probably the best shape in my life, and I’m here practicing with the team. I’m on a PTO (professional tryout) actually. I’m not stressed at all.”
Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of Edvinsson’s blunt remarks regarding the mega-contracts signed by young players around the NHL this summer, too:
“It took a while, but now it’s finally someone here, and I’ve been talking to [interim GM Shawn] Horcoff, and we had a good conversation,” Edvinsson said. “So yeah, that’s where we are right now.”
Being around his teammates in a familiar environment is helping to keep Edvinsson’s mind off the ongoing negotiations over his new pact.
“I think I would be stressed if I was back in Sweden now and I saw everybody else practicing,” Edvinsson said.
And yes, he has noticed the contracts being signed by other defensemen around the league.
“I would be lying if I said no,” Edvinsson said. “Of course, it’s been a lot of contracts. The cap is going up. Everybody’s trying to secure players, young players. I think that’s the way the league is going right now.”
Update: Here’s more from MLive’s Ansar Khan:
“I don’t see the reason for me to sit at home. We are going into a new season where it’s important that everybody is linked together. Everybody needs to be on the same page and that was my reasoning to come over here. … We have some new strategies on the ice, so I wanted to be part of that and go through that.”
Yzerman and Edvinsson’s agent had started negotiations before the change in leadership.
“I asked and (my agent) and said we lay low for a little bit; hopefully someone comes in soon,” Edvinsson said. “It took a while, but now finally someone’s here, and (his agent) has been talking to Horcoff, and we have a good conversation.”
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The 6-6 defenseman selected sixth overall in 2021 is part of a young core of top picks that includes his defense partner, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.
“We see the size and his skating ability, you know he’s got a real good shot, and he jumps in at the right time,” McLellan said. “But his overall game, his hockey sense, his hockey IQ has improved a lot. He reads plays better. He kills plays faster. He’s a little quicker around the net. If he had those disaster moments that we all have, whether it’s coaches or players, they’re fewer and far between. So, he’s come a long way when you think about it.”
Edvinsson said he’s grown into his body a lot more.
“I’m a little bit heavier, and I feel like I got more control now over the movements, and I feel like that can make me a better threat on the offensive blue line, and I feel like that can make me a better threat to come out of the own zone as well,” he said. “It’s just small things, but I think in general it feels pretty good.”
