Simon Edvinsson Skates at Rival Facility as Trade Buzz Grows

The Montreal Canadiens have been among the teams “apparently” connected to unsigned Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson since Tuesday, according to The Fourth Period.

Most of the talk over the last few days has been about Nikita Kucherov and Dylan Larkin.

They are the hot topics around the League.

But there is another situation in Detroit that has slipped a bit under the radar.

Edvinsson is still without a contract.

He is a restricted free agent.

He has asked the Wings to trade him.

He is listed on injured reserve because of the contract dispute.

He has not played a single game this season.

In The Fourth Period's reporting, the Habs were mentioned alongside the Blues, Predators, Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Kraken, Flyers, Bruins, and Sharks.

Montreal's name on that list came as a surprise.

Does Edvinsson to the Montreal Canadiens make sense?

Edvinsson is 6-foot-6 and only 23 years old.

He is already viewed as one of the league's better two-way defensemen.

He has a strong reputation.

The Red Wings selected him sixth overall in 2021.

A player like that could help all 32 teams in the League.

What interests us is how badly the Canadiens would actually need him.

On the left side of the blue line, Montreal is already well stocked with Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, and Arber Xhekaj.

Hutson alone has 14 points in 15 games.

There is also Luke Mittelstadt, who is putting up big numbers in the American League as a rookie.

Would the Canadiens really want to pursue another left-shot defenseman?

The other possibility would be using one of their current young lefties, Guhle or Mittelstadt, to land Edvinsson and strengthen the defensive group.

The context matters too.

Montreal has a 9-3-3 record and sits second in the Atlantic Division.

Detroit is 19th in the League at 7-6-3.

That does not mean the big Swede will be arriving in Montreal tomorrow morning.

There is a good chance it never gets that far.

Still, Montreal being attached to his name matters.

Even if this never turns into a real push, the link says something about where the Canadiens may be looking as they weigh their next move on the blue line.

THE NASHVILLE APPEARANCE

The Nashville Predators had an answer ready when they were asked why Simon Edvinsson was on their practice ice.

A team spokesperson told the Tennessean that Thursday's session was a "private ice rental."

The spokesperson added that the Predators "would not comment on any other team's players."

That is a lot of words for a skate nobody was supposed to notice.

Edvinsson still has no contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

He is a restricted free agent.

TSN reported he has to be under contract by Dec. 1 or he is not eligible to play in the NHL this season.

The video was posted Thursday on Instagram by Dustin Smith, a former Predators practice goaltender.

The Tennessean identified the rink as Centennial Ice Rink, which the Predators list as their official practice facility.

Edvinsson is in Red Wings gear in the clip.

That is the detail that will keep Detroit fans staring at it.

Does that mean he wants this settled with Detroit before Dec. 1?

Nobody has said so.

Edvinsson, his agent and interim general manager Shawn Horcoff still have to get there.

Getting him signed would matter.

Edvinsson played 72 games for the Red Wings last season.

He scored nine goals with 16 assists and a plus-12 rating.

Nashville has been among the clubs rumored to have interest.

TSN reported Oct. 30 that as many as 10 teams had talked to Detroit about Edvinsson.

The San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins were the two named in that report.

Nashville would almost certainly have to give up a young center or draft picks to pry Edvinsson away.

Prospects like Wyatt Cullen or Aiden Fink are the sort of names Detroit would ask about in that conversation.

No specific package has been reported.

There is a simpler read too.

Edvinsson is represented by CAA.

The Tennessean noted the agency has offices in Nashville.

That gives him a reason to be in the city that has nothing to do with the Predators' blue line.

A rink the Predators rent out is still a rink.

Red Wings fans will keep wondering what comes next.

Edvinsson turning up on the Predators' practice ice may feel like nothing.

With less than four weeks until the deadline, it is still something.

THE DETROIT STALEMATE

The Detroit Red Wings are currently in the midst of two different stalemates involving high-profile players.

Only one of them has a quickly approaching deadline.

Edvinsson remains an unsigned restricted free agent.

He has yet to play this season despite reporting to Training Camp in September.

He participated in non-scrimmage on-ice drills.

Frustrated by the lack of progress on a new contract, Edvinsson returned to his native Sweden.

He eventually returned to the Eastern seaboard of the United States to work with a trainer.

And now, Edvinsson has recently been spotted skating at the Nashville Predators' practice facility alongside emergency goaltender Dustin Smith.

The deadline for Edvinsson to sign a new contract in order to be eligible to play this season is December 1.

That is less than a month away.

In his most recent press availability session, Red Wings interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said that there were no new updates regarding progress on a new contract.

He said the situation was "status quo."

Weeks prior while discussing the extension for forward Alex DeBrincat, Horcoff said in no uncertain terms that he has zero intention of trading Edvinsson.

He said the club would like to get him signed to a new deal.

WHAT IT COULD COST — THE CANADIENS ANGLE

The Fourth Period's report listed Montreal among the interested teams.

The Canadiens are sitting second in the Atlantic Division with a 9-3-3 record.

They are ahead of schedule in their rebuild.

Adding a 23-year-old top-four defenseman would accelerate that timeline.

But Montreal's left side is already crowded.

Lane Hutson is a rookie with 14 points in 15 games.

Kaiden Guhle is a 22-year-old former first-round pick.

Mike Matheson is a veteran top-pairing defenseman.

Arber Xhekaj is a physical presence.

Luke Mittelstadt is putting up big numbers in the AHL as a rookie.

Would the Canadiens really want to pursue another left-shot defenseman?

The other possibility would be using one of their current young lefties to land Edvinsson.

That would strengthen the defensive group.

But it would also create a new hole.

WHAT IT COULD COST — THE SHARKS ANGLE