Simon Edvinsson has another suitor. The Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams with interest in the Red Wings defenseman, per David Pagnotta.
The Maple Leafs won 4-2 in Vancouver on Saturday night and sit 12th in the NHL at 8-6-2. They aren't a team in crisis, which makes this look like a push to add, not a rescue job.
Edvinsson hasn't played a game this season. He's listed on injured reserve with the designation "Contract Dispute - Out indefinitely," according to the latest injury report.
That is a rare situation for a 23-year-old who was drafted sixth overall by Detroit in 2021. It also changes how any buyer has to approach the conversation.
Over 175 career games, the 6'6 blueliner has 19 goals and 41 assists for 60 points, with a +17 rating. Those numbers say a lot about the upside and not much about a finished product.
Toronto's interest lands in a market that was already crowded. The Red Wings reportedly turned down a strong offer from San Jose, as we outlined in Simon Edvinsson's rejected Sharks offer on Friday.
Red Wings' asking price is the real obstacle for Toronto
Rival front offices have pushed back hard on what Detroit wants. Our earlier look at the Red Wings' asking price for Edvinsson described that figure as sky-high.
That leaves Shawn Horcoff in a tight spot. He's holding a defenseman who isn't playing, while his team sits 20th in the league and eighth in the Atlantic Division at 6-5-3.
The Red Wings are minus-2 in goal differential, with 41 goals for and 43 against. A 6'6 defenseman who can move the puck is exactly what that group could use on the ice, and he's sitting out.
Pagnotta's report came via a note that Toronto is one of several teams in the mix. The Mug NHL passed along the news.
The Mug NHL relayed that the Maple Leafs are among the teams with interest in Edvinsson, per Pagnotta.
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Detroit plays at Florida today, with Todd McLellan's group still without one of its top young defensemen. Toronto hosts Utah on Tuesday, and Edvinsson's contract dispute remains unresolved.
Should the Maple Leafs pay Detroit's price for Simon Edvinsson while he's in a contract dispute?
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