Detroit Red Wings
Insider Says No-Go on Cowan, But Do Maple Leafs Consider Trading Him for Simon Edvinsson?
Would you trade Easton Cowan for Simon Edvinsson? One analysts weighs in on what a Maple Leafs deal for the Red Wings d-man could look like.
With Simon Edvinsson reportedly seeking a trade out of Detroit, Toronto faces a tough question: would you give up Easton Cowan to get him? Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts that he didn’t see Cowan as a piece the Maple Leafs were willing to move. But if they want a difference-maker on the blue line, they have to give to get, and Edvinsson isn’t any ordinary player.
Nick Alberga believes the Maple Leafs need a difference-maker on the blue line and says Edvinsson could be the type of young defenceman worth discussing Cowan for. Alberga said he would be open to having Cowan in the conversation, even though it stings, because Edvinsson fits the timeline of a team trying to develop and grow from a good team into a great one. He adedd, Edvinsson is fu—-ng good.”
Alberga did caution the Maple Leafs from jumping right into the kind of trade, however. He said the Leafs shouldn’t chase the season if they aren’t contenders and Edvinsson might not push them into that spot immediately. He added that he doesn’t believe Toronto is one piece away from winning a Stanley Cup, though he noted it’s only three games into the season and sees real potential in the roster.
Would the Red Wings Entertain This Kind of Trade?
Some Red Wings fans have suggested that Cowan plus a first-round pick would start the conversation. One mock trade circulating online has Toronto acquiring Edvinsson, with Detroit receiving Cowan, Dakota Joshua, a 2027 first-round pick (from Colorado) and a 2029 second-round pick. Edvinsson would immediately slot in as Toronto’s top-pair defenceman alongside Darren Raddysh.
Reaction has been mixed. Some supporters acknowledge that landing Edvinsson would almost certainly start with Cowan going the other way, and one called Edvinsson among the few players they’d be willing to lose him for. Others argue the mock trade devalues what Cowan is going to become, and there’s a reason the Maple Leafs are so high on him.
In both cases, the Red Wings and the Maple Leafs need to re-sign the players. Edvisson is looking for market value on defensemen, which is high. It’s unclear what Cowan will be worth, but one would assume the Red Wings would want to lock him up long-term. He has this season and next on his entry-level deal at $900K.
Next: The Maple Leafs Found a Way to Win. Can They Keep It Going?
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