Major Development In Simon Edvinsson Trade Rumors

Teams around the NHL have been lining up to have a chance at pitching the Detroit Red Wings on a Simon Edvinsson trade. The latest news, however, from Wings GM Shawn Horcoff should put all that talk to rest.

Shawn Horcoff: “I have zero interest in trading Simon Edvinsson”

I have zero interest in trading Simon Edvinsson. Not something I'm entertaining. We want to sign him.

This emphatic statement shutting down trade talks comes despite the report that emanated out of Sweden last week, where the unsigned RFA defenseman was said to have a "preference" to be dealt rather than to re-sign in Detroit.

Edvinsson, unsigned all summer mostly because the Red Wings didn't have a GM in place to handle that sort of thing, made a magnanimous gesture by attending training camp anyway on a PTO.

But when camp was over, and the two sides were nowhere close to a deal, his locker was removed from the Red Wings' room, and Edvinsson was no longer around the team. He left for Sweden shortly thereafter.

He just returned to North America this week to continue training on the East Coast. But there is still no agreement on a new contract in sight. And trade rumors had persisted.

The Red Wings were initially trying to get a bridge deal done with the 23-year-old, but are now reportedly open to a longer-term framework. But with Edvinsson expected (and deserving, according to comparable contracts signed around the league in recent weeks) somewhere in the neighborhood of a $9M - $11M AAV, it's apparent that Detroit is just not ready to go there yet.