$15.89Mcap space after
All proposalsDET / CAR
DET and CAR trade
McNoapuOct 14, 2026
42%
chance it happens
Model says CAR says no.
Vote below to see if readers agree.
$8.44Mcap space after
Who says no?
3 votesAnalysis
Carolina is more likely to pass: Edvinsson is the better defender, but Nikishin plus two unprotected firsts is a steep price when both players still need contracts. Detroit would have a harder time replacing Edvinsson's first-pair minutes, yet the picks make this an offer it should seriously consider.
Assets
- 2027 1st round pick
- 2028 1st round pick
Why the model says so
Detroit loses its best young defensive piece, but Nikishin and two unprotected firsts are enough to make a deal plausible for a bubble team.
Even assuming Edvinsson agrees to extend, Carolina would likely balk at adding two firsts to Nikishin for the upgrade.
Context provided by the author
edvinsson agrees to extension with CAR
The deal
Detroit Red Wings acquire Alexander Nikishin, a 2027 1st-round pick (CAR) and a 2028 1st-round pick (CAR) from the Carolina Hurricanes for Simon Edvinsson.
Team by team
DET
Detroit would give up Edvinsson, a 23-year-old first-pair defender who scored 25 points in 72 games and played strong defense last season. Nikishin scored 33 points in 81 games and can play either side, but his defensive play makes him a less certain replacement; two Carolina firsts give the bubble Red Wings a substantial return.
CAR
Carolina would upgrade its blue line for another Cup run, assuming Edvinsson agrees to an extension there. Both defensemen are unsigned RFAs who need new deals, so neither has a current cap hit to compare; the cost is two unprotected firsts that project late if Carolina remains a contender, but could become much more valuable if it slips.
Discussion1
MN
McNoapu
Can fiddle with the conditions of the picks. They'll probably be late in the 1st round anyway