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Report: Simon Edvinsson leaves Sweden to train on East Coast as Red Wings contract standoff continues

Unsigned Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson has reportedly returned to North America to train, but reports say no new contract with Detroit appears imminent.

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Restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson has left Sweden and is setting up to train on the East Coast of the United States, The Detroit News’ Ted Kulfan reported Tuesday. The move is not a sign that his contract standoff with the Detroit Red Wings is over: the report says there is no indication a new deal is imminent, and the team has not announced any change in his status.

Edvinsson, 23, will work with trainers arranged by his agency, according to the report. TSN’s Chris Johnston said on Insider Trading that Edvinsson wanted to train with someone he is comfortable with in North America, and that his willingness to cross the Atlantic again “does symbolize some good things.”

How the standoff got here

Edvinsson attended Red Wings training camp without a contract as a show of good faith but did not play in scrimmages or preseason games. When camp ended without a deal, he went home to Sweden and practiced with Frölunda, his former club. Mitten Hockey reported on Oct. 7 that he would reportedly prefer a trade out of Detroit, and on Oct. 9 that the Bruins were reported to be among at least 10 teams to check in on him. Neither the player nor the team has confirmed a trade request.

HockeyFeed, in a story syndicated by Yahoo Sports, reported that Detroit moved off a bridge deal and offered roughly six years at about $8.5 million per season, which Edvinsson turned down. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has said signing Edvinsson remains the priority while he fields trade calls. Boston, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Utah have been linked to the defenseman in various reports.

Under NHL rules, an unsigned restricted free agent must sign by 5 p.m. Eastern on Dec. 1 to be eligible to play this season. Edvinsson had nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last season while averaging more than 22 minutes a night.

Sources

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