As Simon Edvinsson remains in Sweden, the Detroit Red Wings face a potential organizational shift, exploring trade targets to secure future center-ice stability.
The tension inside the Detroit Red Wings organization remains palpable. While captain Dylan Larkin silenced critics during Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators—scoring a goal and two points while physically engaging Ridly Greig—his long-term status with the club is far from settled. Larkin requested a move out of Michigan last spring, yet he continues to compete with intensity on the ice. The same cannot be said for six-foot-six defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
Edvinsson, an unsigned restricted free agent, remains in his native Sweden. While interim GM Shawn Horcoff holds out hope for a late agreement to keep the 23-year-old in Detroit. the reality of the situation is shifting. Reports indicate Edvinsson would prefer a fresh start elsewhere. forcing the Red Wings to weigh the possibility of a complete organizational reset. What was once a club dead-set against taking a step back may now be forced to acknowledge that a broader restructuring is necessary.
If the organization moves on from both Larkin and Edvinsson, the front office must reconcile how these departures intersect. For some time. the goal in any Larkin deal has been clear: acquire a center capable of slotting immediately into the lineup. If an Edvinsson trade can secure a high-level young pivot. it might change the team’s threshold for what they accept in return for Larkin.
Utah is one team actively monitoring the situation, having expressed interest in the 2021 sixth-overall pick. With a blue line already featuring Mikhail Sergachev. Dmitri Simashev. and MacKenzie Weegar. Utah could look to anchor their defense with Edvinsson’s size. To land him. they might be forced to part with Caleb Desnoyers. the fourth-overall pick in the 2025 draft. who is currently beginning his AHL career. For Detroit, adding a prospect with such significant two-way potential would be a foundational move.
Other organizations offer different profiles. The Seattle Kraken. deep at center with Matty Beniers. Shane Wright. and 2025 eighth-overall pick Jake O’Brien. could dangle 2024 eighth-overall selection Berkly Catton. Though Catton has yet to find his professional stride, his motor remains an asset. Alternatively. the Boston Bruins. looking to secure the future behind Charlie McAvoy—who turns 29 in December—could consider moving 2025 seventh-overall pick James Hagens. While Hagens has two goals in four games. his five-foot-11 frame and current deployment on the wing leave questions about his long-term ceiling at center.
Then there is the internal depth of the St. Louis Blues. With Robert Thomas captaining the team and Mason McTavish entrenched in the middle. 21-year-old Dalibor Dvorsky—the 10th-overall pick in 2023 with two goals in three games this year—could become available. Finally, the Columbus Blue Jackets remain a wildcard. Kent Johnson has been a fixture in trade rumors. and while he would likely need to be part of a larger package to entice Detroit. he offers a track record of offensive production. having recorded 24 goals and 57 points in 68 contests two seasons ago.
The Red Wings are currently navigating a path where the best-laid plans have already gone off the rails. Whether these assets can bridge the gap in Detroit’s lineup remains the defining question of a difficult season.
Simon Edvinsson Detroit Red Wings NHL trade rumors Dylan Larkin Shawn Horcoff NHL