If you were hoping for a Simon Edvinsson contract extension soon, don't hold your breath. According to Elliotte Friedman of 32 Thoughts, it doesn't sound like either side has budged on their respective demands.
Despite what Shawn Horcoff said in a press conference earlier this month, Friedman reiterates that Simon Edvinsson's desire, as of right now, is to be traded to another organization.
"I think they're a little bit disappointed about how they haven't been able to budge Edvinsson...I think they're a bit surprised, too," Friedman said in his Red Wings segment. According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Edvinsson and interim GM Shawn Horcoff met to discuss further contract terms, though it's clear there hasn't been much of an update on that front."
Edvinsson made it public earlier this month that his preference is to be traded, though he has not yet made a formal trade request. It sounds like, based on play time and offensive production, the Red Wings aim to get him closer to Moritz Seider's $8.55M/year cap hit, but the salary cap has drastically changed since then.
Thus, we remain at an impasse, where Edvinsson remains unsigned and the Red Wings remain longing for their number two defenseman.
Red Wings trade targets in mind
If a deal can't be met, Friedman says, the Red Wings already have an ideal target in mind: a young center.
"The one thing I think they are doing is...they're starting to ask about young centers," Friedman continues. "And maybe even some guys who are top prospects that aren't even in the NHL yet. I had a couple teams tell me on Wednesday that whatever Detroit's planning here, they're looking at young centers."
This should come as a surprise to no one that's familiar with the Red Wings. Save for Emmitt Finnie, an injured Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson, the team is starved in the young center market. It's become such a pain point for the organization that any would-be trade for Dylan Larkin starts with a young center as the centerpiece (no pun intended).
Nevertheless, Friedman reiterates that, even if the team's priority is to sign Edvinsson, they're doing their due diligence on the trade front.
"There is some groundwork being done here."
Red Wings quickly running out of time
In order for Edvinsson to play in the NHL this season, he'll need to sign a contract before December 1.
"I think you can say publicly 'we want to sign him' and it's true, but you have to be prepared for reality. If you want to trade him, you've got 40 days or he can't play this year," Friedman remarks.
The Red Wings have a little over a month to get this deal done. While they've allegedly been making progress, it's clear they're not near the finish line yet -- especially if Edvinsson's preference still stands. That said, Friedman made it clear that Edvinsson has not yet formally requested a trade. While it may be his preference due to the long negotiating process, the proverbial bridge is not yet burned.
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