As much as the Detroit Red Wings might not want to admit it, they're running out of time in the Simon Edvinsson negotiations.
The team has just a little over a month left to sign the only yet-unsigned restricted free agent. If they can't get it done by December 1, Edvinsson will no longer be eligible to play in the NHL this season.
Edvinsson, of course, will play in the NHL this season. Whether by contract or trade, barring an injury, he'll take to the ice in 2026-27. The question, however, rests solely on where he'll play. Will he return to Detroit, or find a new home somewhere else?
According to Elliotte Friedman of 32 Thoughts, there's a legitimate candidate entering the fold for Edvinsson: the San Jose Sharks.
"I do think the Red Wings and the Sharks have talked about Edvinsson pretty deeply," said Friedman on Thursday's podcast episode. "I don't know that that's gonna happen because I'm not sure what the Sharks are willing to do here or what the Red Wings like. But I know the two teams have talked pretty extensively."
it's important to note that Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff has stated over and over that his priority is to sign Edvinsson. But, if a deal can't be worked out, plenty of teams with exciting pieces will certainly line up for a young defenseman like Edvinsson.
One such team is the Sharks.
What the Sharks have to offer for Edvinsson
The Sharks, who are slowly exiting their rebuild, have plenty of prospects and picks they've squirreled away over the years. Whether it's the exciting potential of Keaton Verhoeff or a steal like Igor Chernyshov, they've got their pick of the litter when it comes to young players. One player that Horcoff would likely target in particular is former second overall pick Michael Misa.
The onus, however, rests upon the Sharks.
Would they be willing to trade Misa? What's the most they're comfortable paying for a top-pairing young defenseman? The Red Wings are likely going to ask for a little more than normal, given that Edvinsson is so young and has developed into a premier defenseman. That said, can the Sharks justify sending their second overall pick for a defenseman?
Of course, bringing Misa into the fold would work wonders for the Red Wings. The young center has the potential to play top line minutes and could serve as a Dylan Larkin replacement for the future.
Other candidates that have expressed interest, according to Friedman, include the Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and Seattle Kraken. Each carry their own set of pros and cons. The Flyers, for example, could offer up someone like Matvei Michkov in exchange, but it isn't clear how he'd handle a change this close to his third year in the league -- nor where he'd slot in the lineup.
For now, the Red Wings are somewhat of a moving target. They're improving offensively, to be certain, but they need to figure out this Edvinsson deal as soon as they possibly can.
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