Story Summary
The Detroit Red Wings are reportedly continuing discussions with restricted free-agent defenceman Simon Edvinsson’s representative, J.P. Barry, but Darren Dreger has indicated that no progress has been made.
Edvinsson is viewed within the organisation as a potential foundational player, yet Detroit are said to be listening to other clubs while comparing possible trade interest with the cost of keeping him.
Larkin’s trade request after last season has been confirmed, but no completed transaction has been announced. The immediate reporting concerns Detroit’s evaluation of its options rather than an agreed deal for Larkin or Edvinsson.
Key Facts
- Darren Dreger reported that the Red Wings and Simon Edvinsson’s agent, J.P. Barry, remain in contact but have made no progress on a new agreement.
- Edvinsson is a restricted free agent and is regarded as a possible foundational piece for Detroit.
- Detroit are reportedly listening to other teams’ views on Edvinsson while weighing that interest against the cost of moving him.
- Dylan Larkin’s situation was described as fluid and extending into the early part of the season.
- Larkin requested a trade after last season, though he reported to Red Wings training camp.
- Kris Draper has moved into Detroit’s pro scouting department and is the club’s director of pro scouting.
- Shawn Horcoff is identified as Detroit’s interim general manager.
- There is no report of an agreed trade involving either Larkin or Edvinsson.
IHM Discussion
This is not simply a contract file. Edvinsson’s negotiation is being discussed against a wider question of how Detroit wishes to build its next version of the roster.
The central confirmed fact is that the club continues to speak with Barry. The central reported complication is the absence of progress. That does not establish that a trade is imminent, or even that one will happen. It does, however, leave Detroit with two paths that need careful separation: finding terms that keep Edvinsson in the organisation, or determining whether any outside offer is compelling enough to alter that plan.
Larkin’s position adds weight to the discussion without making the two cases identical. His requested trade is a separate roster issue, while the reporting around Edvinsson concerns an unsigned restricted free agent whom Detroit want to retain. Treating both players as automatically available would go beyond what has been reported. The more accurate reading is that Detroit are managing uncertainty around two important players at once.
Draper’s pro-scouting role is relevant because it gives the club a defined mechanism for assessing professional players who could feature in any future trade conversation. That is preparation, not proof that an exchange is close. Horcoff’s task is to establish what alternatives exist while continuing to judge the value of keeping players already central to the club’s plans.
Why It Matters
Edvinsson’s case matters because Detroit reportedly see him as a player around whom the organisation can build. A prolonged lack of movement therefore carries more significance than an ordinary depth-contract negotiation: it creates uncertainty around a player the club would prefer to keep.
Larkin’s requested trade compounds that uncertainty. If Detroit were to make major decisions on both players, it would reshape the discussion around the club’s immediate personnel base. But the present information does not support declaring that outcome likely. The important hockey issue is the breadth of the evaluation now taking place, not a prediction about where either player will play.
For Detroit, keeping the distinction between leverage and intent will be crucial. Listening to interest can be part of responsible roster management. Keeping Edvinsson remains the stated preference., while Larkin’s unresolved circumstances remain a separate matter that has yet to produce a completed move.
IHM Market Outlook
The reported market position is clear but limited: Detroit are said to be hearing from teams on Edvinsson while remaining in negotiations with Barry. That creates information for the Red Wings, but it does not establish an asking price, a specific suitor, a trade package or a deadline for a decision.
Larkin’s circumstances make Detroit’s broader market work more consequential. The club can use pro scouting to identify players who fit possible scenarios, yet there is no basis to say that any particular player has been targeted or that negotiations have advanced. Until a contract agreement or transaction is announced, both situations should be treated as unresolved.
Mini Q&A
Have the Red Wings traded Simon Edvinsson?
No. Detroit are reportedly listening to other clubs, but no trade has been agreed or announced.
What is the latest reported position in Edvinsson’s contract talks?
Detroit and J.P. Barry are reportedly still talking, but no progress has been reported.
Is Dylan Larkin confirmed to be leaving Detroit?
No. Larkin requested a trade after last season, but no completed transaction has been announced.
Why is Kris Draper’s role relevant?
As Detroit’s director of pro scouting, Draper is positioned to assess professional players who could be relevant if trade scenarios emerge.
Coach Mark Comment
Detroit’s immediate challenge is organisational clarity rather than a tactical adjustment. If Edvinsson is regarded as a foundational player, the club must be precise about whether the negotiation remains its preferred route or whether the return available elsewhere would genuinely support its longer-term structure. Larkin’s separate trade request makes that clarity more important, because simultaneous uncertainty around two major players can complicate every roster conversation.
IHM Final View
The Red Wings reportedly want to re-sign Simon Edvinsson despite the lack of progress, while Dylan Larkin’s previously confirmed trade request remains unresolved.
There is no completed deal to report for either player. The responsible conclusion is that Detroit are still gathering options, continuing discussions and assessing how much change the organisation is willing to contemplate.