Red Wings Hold Face-To-Face Meeting Amid Major Trade Standoff
“I can confirm that Edvinsson and his agent, J.P. Barry, met face-to-face with Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff over the weekend, sort of all laying their cards on the table,” LeBrun said Tuesday on TSN’s Early Trading.
LeBrun said he doesn’t get the sense any resolution came out of the meeting, and that he would “stop short of saying there was a formal trade request.”
Where Things Stand
Edvinsson is 23, was the sixth overall pick in 2021, has 60 points in 175 NHL games, and hasn’t played this season as an unsigned restricted free agent.
He has until December 1 to sign, or he’ll be ineligible to play in the NHL for the rest of the season, which is about six weeks away.
Edvinsson took part in Detroit’s training camp, went home to Sweden once the season started without a deal, and has since returned to North America to work with a trainer.
As I talked about here on early Insider Trading, Simon Edvinsson, his agent J.P. Barry and Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff met face to face 3-4 days ago... ⤵️
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 20, 2026
Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this month that Edvinsson prefers a trade, and it was reported he told the Red Wings as much after a shaky summer of extension talks.
Horcoff has said publicly he wants to keep him, telling reporters October 14, “I have zero interest in trading Simon Edvinsson. I want to keep him.”
LeBrun wasn’t convinced that settles it, saying the next day, “I still think that the longer it goes, a trade is still possible.”
The Market Is Waiting
LeBrun reported October 8 that at least 10 teams have inquired about Edvinsson, including Boston, and that each was told Horcoff would rather re-sign him.
He also reported that ownership has given Horcoff full authority to finalize an extension, and Detroit has already used that authority to extend Alex DeBrincat on a seven-year, $91 million deal.
David Pagnotta reported earlier this month that Edvinsson is seeking a maximum seven-year deal worth between $9 million and $11 million a year, and a sizeable gap was described between the sides.
According to LeBrun on Insider Trading, Horcoff would still like to keep and sign Simon Edvinsson but has to keep the option of a trade open, he has engaged with up to 10 teams about a possible deal. San Jose and Boston are among the teams that have been in contact.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) October 20, 2026
If Detroit does trade him, LeBrun said teams should look to the Mikhail Sergachev, Noah Dobson, and Bowen Byram trades as the best comparables for what a young defenseman costs.
LeBrun said the deadline is “a pressure point for everyone involved, which is why you kind of have to keep all options on the table.”
