Report: Red Wings Prepared To Test The Resolve Of Edvinsson

The Detroit Red Wings and Simon Edvinsson are 'playing a big game of chicken'. That's what insider Elliotte Friedman had to say on NHL Network on Saturday. 

The two sides haven't been able to come to an agreement on a new contract, and Edvinsson continues to push for a trade rather than re-signing.  

But the 23-year-old unsigned restricted free agent needs to sign a contract by December 1st, or he will not be eligible to play at all for the entirety of the 2026-27 season. Is Edvinsson willing to take that chance? Are the Red Wings willing to lose a top-pairing blueliner for nothing for the entire campaign? That's where the game of 'chicken' comes in, says Friedman. 

Right now there's a lot of people who seem to think that the Red Wings will, if they want, if the Red Wings feel that 'if we have to test him to see if his resolve is real', they'll do it.

It really could come right down to the last minute on Dec. 1st at 5:00pm ET. Friedman harkened back to another notable situation like this with an RFA that played out this far into a season, recounting that William Nylander didn't sign his second contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs until 30 minutes before the deadline on Dec. 1, 2018. The extension was filed with the league at 4:55 p.m. ET, just getting it in under the wire. 

Will that be the result in Detroit with Edvinsson, or will one side blink before then? 

Detroit has held out for an extremely high asking price for their blue chip defender. They want young, elite NHL-ready talent or a top-tier prospect package. Let's use the rumored discussions with the San Jose Sharks as Exhibit A, where top young forward Michael Misa (No. 2 overall pick last year) is not enough to get a deal done. "Plus-plus" additional assets are being asked for, per the reports. 

He is currently in Nashville working out with his trainers.