Some may look at the lack of momentum between the Detroit Red Wings and Simon Edvinsson as a concern. Others may see it as a matter of logistics. After all, the Red Wings are still looking for their next general manager and there's been little movement on the disgruntled captain front.
Fortunately, it appears as if the organization and the Swedish defenseman are on the same page. According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen, Edvinsson's camp is waiting to hear from the next general manager before finalizing his extension.
“We are patiently awaiting for a new general manager,” said Edvinsson’s agent, Peter Werner.
Edvinsson finished out the last year of his entry-level contract last season, putting up 25 points in 72 games. Expressen believes his extension will land somewhere within the $7.5-8M per year range -- a huge win for both the team and Edvinsson.
All quiet on the Edvinsson front
Sometimes, no news is good news. This is especially relieving for the Red Wings, who had to worry about the Carolina Hurricanes potentially sending an offer sheet Edvinsson's way earlier this offseason. Though the article itself doesn't offer much, it appears as if the Swedish defenseman and the organization are on the same page with the future.
Securing Edvinsson at around $7.5-8M per season would be a huge boon for the Red Wings, especially with the exploding salary cap over the next coming seasons. If Edvinsson signs for $8M, he, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond will combine for $24.625M in salary cap space -- around 23% of the team's total salary.
That flexibility will be integral to helping to build out the rest of the roster in the coming years. As the cap goes up, so will players' salaries. If the team can get Edvinsson on a longer term extension, they'll have their top defensive pairing locked up for the next five seasons. The only other major contract they'll need to worry about over the next season is Alex DeBrincat's, who has already vowed to remain with the Red Wings if they offer him a fair deal.
Red Wings ready to lock down defensive core
Between Edvinsson, Seider and Albert Johansson, it looks as if the Red Wings are slowly finding their long-term identity at defense. Once Axel Sandin-Pellikka makes his NHL jump, the team will have four young defenders locked in to the lineup for the long run. They still have Ben Chiarot and Justin Faulk on the lineup, of course, but it isn't likely Faulk sticks around much longer past this next season.
As for Chiarot, the older he gets - and the more mistakes he makes - the harder it is to figure out where he'll play in the long run. He could likely still be an effective bottom-pairing defenseman, but, by the time his deal runs out, he'll be 38.
With other defensemen like Anton Johansson and William Wallinder knocking on the door, there's a legitimate question on where Chiarot will play out hthe remainder of his contract.
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