Simon Edvinsson stands firm as Red Wings eye December 1st

Elliotte Friedman says Simon Edvinsson has been "very adamant" he won't play for the Red Wings again, and Detroit is prepared to wait.

This is no longer a quiet contract negotiation. It has turned into a standoff, and a date is now attached to it.

Friedman, speaking on NHL Now on Friday, laid out where the Red Wings stand on the 23-year-old defenseman. The NHL Rumour Report passed along his comments on Sunday:

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According to Friedman, Detroit's attitude is that if it takes until December 1st to test Edvinsson's resolve, so be it. The post says December 1st is the last day Edvinsson can, but the text is cut off there, so we won't guess what comes after that.

Edvinsson is currently listed on injured reserve with the designation "Contract Dispute - Out indefinitely." He hasn't played a game this season.

For those just catching up, the Canadiens' interest in Edvinsson surfaced Thursday, when David Pagnotta reported "a lot of interest" from Montreal.

Then came Friday. Alex Daugherty reported that the defenseman has been skating in Nashville and that the Predators are believed to be interested, and Chris Johnston said a return to Sweden is possible if contract talks don't move forward.

## PLACEHOLDER

Can the Red Wings really afford to wait?

Not comfortably. Detroit sits 22nd in the NHL at 7-8-3, has lost three straight, and was shut out 4-0 in Colorado on Saturday night. A team with that goal differential (-7) doesn't have depth to burn on the blue line.

Edvinsson is the sixth overall pick from 2021, stands 6'6, and has 175 NHL games on his résumé with 60 points. Those are real credentials for a defenseman who is still only 23.

Waiting out a player in that position is a gamble, and Detroit is making it while sliding in the standings. If this ends in a trade, the Red Wings need a return that matches a top-10 pick's value. Anything less would make the standoff look like a mistake from the start.

Todd McLellan's group plays next Tuesday at St. Louis. Shawn Horcoff's phone, meanwhile, will keep ringing between now and December 1st.

Quick hits

FLORIDA PANTHERS: Brady Tkachuk and Nikita Zadorov dropped the gloves right at the start of the Panthers-Bruins game at TD Garden, according to Conor Ryan. No warm-up period at all.

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BOSTON BRUINS: Jacob Markstrom is projected to start for the Panthers this afternoon in Boston, FlaHockeyNow reports, while the Bruins stick with Jeremy Swayman.

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CALGARY FLAMES: Ryan Huska explained that Kevin Bahl ruptured his Achilles warming up Friday night, calling it a freak accident. Brutal way to lose a defenseman.

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OTTAWA SENATORS: Linus Ullmark has finally come off injured reserve and is back on the regular roster, Bruce Garrioch reported.

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WINNIPEG JETS: Scott Arniel says Josh Morrissey will not return tonight against Tampa Bay, a reversal from what was expected.

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Also read on Markerzone.com:
Brady Tkachuk tries to set the tone at puck drop and runs into Nikita Zadorov