The San Jose Sharks have spent the early weeks of the season sorting out a blue line that still carries the fingerprints of a deliberate offseason rebuild.
Adding veterans such as Jacob Trouba, Darnell Nurse, and Michael Kesselring gave the group size and experience, yet the organization continues to look for a younger cornerstone who can carry top-pairing minutes for years rather than simply filling them in the present.
That search has led the Sharks into substantive discussions with the Detroit Red Wings about restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, those talks have included at least one serious offer from San Jose. Detroit turned it down, though Friedman noted that the Red Wings’ decision did not appear unreasonable on its face.
The Sharks’ interest is straightforward: Edvinsson is a 23-year-old left-shot defenseman with the size and skating profile that teams target when they want a long-term No. 1 rather than another complementary piece.
While Trouba and Nurse bring leadership and physical presence, neither is a 23-year-old who can grow into the role as the rest of San Jose’s young core matures around Macklin Celebrini.
Landing Edvinsson would represent a clear upgrade in both age and projected ceiling.
The broader market shows that the Sharks are not alone. Friedman reported that five teams have taken a long look at the unsigned defender, with the St. Louis Blues, Seattle Kraken, and Nashville Predators also linked to him and Boston’s interest having cooled.
Seattle’s early-season success and Nashville’s willingness to reshape its roster under a new general manager make both logical suitors, while the Blues have drawn attention in part because Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper has scouted them recently.
Still, the depth of the conversations between San Jose and Detroit sets the Sharks apart from the field for now.
Complicating matters is the December 1 deadline. Edvinsson must be under contract by then to play in the NHL this season.
He has not appeared in a game yet and is believed to prefer a change of scenery, seeking a long-term deal that could approach or exceed $10 million per season.
Detroit interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has publicly stated a preference for signing him rather than trading him, even as the Dylan Larkin situation continues to demand attention elsewhere on the roster.
If the two sides cannot bridge the gap on term and dollars, the serious offer already tabled by San Jose may not be the last word.
For the Sharks, the question is whether they can raise the price enough to convince Detroit that moving Edvinsson now is better than risking another month of uncertainty.
