Maple Leafs dealt huge blow amid Simon Edvinsson trade talks

The Toronto Maple Leafs' quest to acquire Simon Edvinsson may be all for naught as Detroit GM Shawn Horcoff has insisted he's not trading his young defender.

There's been a ton of discussion and speculation surrounding Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Evinsson as he continues to navigate a contract dispute. Currently in Sweden while trying to figure out a new contract, there have been heavy rumours that he could be the next star to be dealt.

The Maple Leafs are a team who are deeply interested in adding Edvinsson and he certainly could be a great addition for the team not only to help them compete now, but someone who can be the backbone of the blue line for years to come.

They may have to pay handsomely - but it's all worth it.

Toronto may be out of luck after Detroit refuses to trade Edvinsson

But whatever package they do decide to offer Detroit, it may be fruitless at the end of the day considering that Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff is not going to trade him, at least for now.

Horcoff was short and sweet in his statement regarding Edvinsson's future, and tried to shut down any potential trade speculation before it grew even larger:

I have zero interest in trading Simon Edvinsson.

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Red Wings fans are not exactly happy with that sentiment as their frustrations about their rough start to the season is starting to seep through:

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Some fans are even saying that this is just delaying the inevitable and we are going to see Edvinsson headed elsewhere some time this season:

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It's not like the Red Wings aren't making splashes, as they just signed Alex Debrincat to a seven-year, $91-million extension this week, and that also drew fans' ire - if they have money for him, why not Edvinsson?

Toronto can still put together a winning offer, they just need to be patient

John Chayka knows all about telling fans that he isn't going to trade players. He did so with Matthew Knies, then a week later shipped him off for Kirill Marchenko. Money and assets talk, and if Detroit has a genuine chance to improve their future then they need to take it.

Toronto can offer them Ben Danford, Noah Chadwick, their 2028 first-rounder from Colorado and a 2029 second-rounder. That gives the Red Wings a prospect in Danford ready to take the leap, a young defenseman in Chadwick who is an underrated puck mover, and two premium picks.

That also saves them money for the future contracts of guys like Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Emmitt Finnie, and Axel Sandin Pellikka who are all going to have massive pay raises come 2028-29.

Toronto has to be patient with Horcoff because the longer this stretches and the more pressure there is to deal Edvinsson, the greater the chance they can push to acquire him. Detroit doesn't hold a lot of leverage, and John Chayka knows he can use that to add his defenseman of the future.

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