The Athletic’s Max Bultman offers a set of training camp observations this morning, and Bultman suggests that the Red Wings may be in for “sticker shock” when it comes to locking up defenseman Simon Edvinsson:
The deadline to sign an eight-year deal has passed, as the new CBA kicked in Sept. 16. But there’s still plenty of incentive for the Red Wings to sign Edvinsson, a top-pair defenseman, to a long-term deal. Like all young defensemen, he could be a bit more consistent. But he’s already proven capable of taking on a monster workload against tough matchups, and he’s only getting better at age 23.
“I feel like I’ve grown into my body a lot more, I’m a little bit heavier, and I feel like I’ve got more control now over the movements,” Edvinsson said during camp. “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 (my) own zone as well.”
The Red Wings would likely be looking at $10 million per year or more on a long-term deal. It would be hard to argue against that number after Zeev Buium — who has even more to prove than Edvinsson — signed an eight-year deal worth $9.38 million annually.
Five-year contracts have been popular in the NHL this offseason, but five years is how much Moritz Seider has left on his contract. Do the Red Wings really want to have Seider and Edvinsson both set to expire the same year?
And yet, both options might be better than a bridge deal, in which the Red Wings would save money for a couple of years in the short term, but would then have to pay far more on the next deal. If the Red Wings were contenders (and up against the cap) right now, a bridge would make some sense. But there’s really no reason for them to be thinking about their short-term payroll in this situation.
Detroit has seen with Raymond and Seider how quickly a pricey long-term deal can turn into a bargain. Going long-term for Edvinsson is the right play too — even if it comes with some sticker shock
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