Edvinsson Plans to Attend Red Wings Camp Without a Contract

Simon Edvinsson planned to take part in Detroit's training camp even without a contract, according to his September 8 interview with Aftonbladet. The defenceman said negotiations had stalled and he had increased his insurance ahead of camp.

For market context, Vancouver signed 20-year-old defenseman Zeev Buium to an eight-year contract worth $75.04 million on September 4, an average annual value of $9.38 million that kicks in with the 2027-28 season. Buium was entering the final year of his entry-level deal and could have reached restricted free agency after 2026-27.

In its September 6 analysis, Detroit Hockey Now called that the new water level for Edvinsson's negotiation, comparing his situation with younger blueliners who had signed new deals.

The comparison is close enough to matter. Buium has 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 76 career NHL games between Minnesota and Vancouver, including 12 points in 45 games for the Canucks last season. Edvinsson put up 25 points in 72 games in his second full NHL season, a season interrupted by two separate injuries, and carried a plus-12 rating in both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

The December 12, 2025 trade sent Quinn Hughes to Minnesota and brought Buium, forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick to Vancouver. Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson called him "a key member of our young core and a player we will build around moving forward."

Detroit's complication is on its own side of the table. As of the September 8 interview, Detroit had no general manager in place, and Edvinsson said contract negotiations had stalled. Former GM Steve Yzerman signed Moritz Seider to a seven-year deal at an $8.55 million average annual value, a number that looks better with every young defenseman who signs.