Andreas Englund has a new stall but not a name tag. Simon Edvinsson has neither.
As one defenseman made inroads on finding his footing with his new team, another remained on the outside. Pending a new contract with the Detroit Red Wings, "Simon is not practicing with the team. The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives," interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said in a released statement on Monday, Sept. 28.
Teammates are sympathetic.
"We all have Simon's back," fellow defenseman Moritz Seider said, "but also we know it's a hard situation for Horc as well. It's obviously his first deal. I think it will be done eventually. I think we just have high hopes and a good mood. Just got to remind everyone that we're
all in the same team in the end, and I think it will be worked out."
Edvinsson, 23, is a restricted free agent. He's one of the team's most important players, a 6-foot-6, 225 pound behemoth who is an excellent skater and puck-handler. To not have him in the lineup would be a blow – but there's time yet this week, as the Wings don't open the 2026-27 season until they host the NY Rangers on Friday, Oct. 2 (6:30 p.m., TNT/truTV).
Having arranged his own insurance, Edvinsson practiced with the team through training camp, but did not take part in scrimmages or exhibition games. Now, with the preseason done, he's not on the ice with his teammates – but if a contract is signed, for example, hours before a game, there's a spot for him in the lineup.
"He's fit," McLellan said. "He's ready. He knows the guys. He's been working systematically with us. So if that happened, yeah, we would, providing he's mentally and physically ready to go, we would have no problem playing him quickly."
The Wings don't lack for space in the locker room – name plates for deceased legends Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay usually hang above empty stalls – so making room for Edvinsson won't be an issue. While that gets sorted out, Englund, a 30-year-old journeyman, is focused on fast-tracking his integration after being claimed off waivers over the weekend. The 6-foot-4, 200 pound Swede is designated "non-roster immigration" until he gets a U.S. work permit, having arrived from being at camp with the Calgary Flames.
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"I was a little surprised, but happy to be able to get a chance to stick in the NHL," Englund said. "I do have a little experience with changing teams, and most guys are really good about it and try to make you feel welcome when you come into a new group. A lot of guys know how it is, too, to change teams, so most guys are really good about it."
Englund is a scrappy player, literally: In 200 career NHL games, he has racked up 190 penalty minutes, including 24 fights – most notably, 11 during the 2023-24 season. He's a solid reserve who can play on the third pairing when needed.
"I think that's exactly what I think his trademarks are," Seider said. "Just a very steady defenseman who can play in the bottom here, and isn't afraid to step up. And I think that's somebody we've been looking for for a while, and I would say it's nice that somebody like him is being picked up by us."
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com.
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For openers: Rangers
Matchup: Red Wings (41-31-10, 92 points in 2025-26) vs. NY Rangers (34-39-9, 77 points in 2025-26); regular-season opener.
Faceoff: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: TNT, truTV; WXYT-FM (97.1).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings teammates back RFA Simon Edvinsson, still unsigned
