Brendan Gaunce Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 http://www.thescore.com/news/513255 The Detroit Red Wings have been thin along the blue-line ever since Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski retired from professional hockey in 2011 and 2012 respectively. While Detroit has a number of promising young prospect defenders in the organizational pipeline, this is a playoff team now, and the club could use some additional help in the short- and medium-term. Which brings us to Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler, fresh off of the worst season of his professional career. The former All-Star had the lowest plus/minus rating in the NHL this past season, and managed only 22 points in 63 games. While his results were atrocious, his on-ice shot differential was solid and the team didn't give up goals against at an appreciably higher rate when he was on the ice at even-strength when compared with past seasons. Basically Edler's offensive luck was brutal this past year, and his low plus/minus is mostly the result of his atrophying offensive production. According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Edler's career-worst season hasn't dissuaded the Red Wings of his potential value and the club has "considerable interest" in potentially acquiring his services. The Red Wings and the Canucks were reportedly engaged in trade talks involving Edler at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, but Vancouver's asking price (which included a first-round draft pick and three additional assets) proved too rich for Red Wings general manager Ken Holland. The Flyers also reportedly attempted to trade for Edler at the NHL trade deadline this past March. Presumably Edler's cataclysmic 2013-14 campaign has caused Vancouver's new management team to re-assess his trade value. The 28-year-old defender is signed to a contract with a $5 million cap-hit for five more seasons, and could be a very intriguing buy-low option for a club like Detroit. That is, of course, if he's willing to waive his no-trade clause to play in Motown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdubuya Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Let them go nuts for Kesler and Edler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NucksCelts Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 As much as I would love for this to be true, I have serious doubts he is willing to waive to go anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeak Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Let them go nuts for Kesler and Edler. Exactly. Get the price up - trade them, then they have cap space, youth and assets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Aren't the Red Wings always interested in Edler every year? But now we don't have Gillis anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madness Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Not sure he'd waive to go to Detroit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topbananas Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Not sure he'd waive to go to Detroit.would you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madness Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 would you? Lol nope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rypien37 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 As much as I would love this to happen I have trouble seeing Edler being ok with leaving Vancouver to the 3rd world AKA Detroit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyville88 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Yes please. I'm tired of waiting for "the real" Alex Edler to show up and start playing decently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharnhayre Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 With lots of Swedes on the Wings roster... He may consider waiving his clause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 The original article that mentions it is hardly an in depth piece on their interest. Here's the quote: Helene St. James @HeleneStJames Detroit Red Wings staff meets this week to assess free agency, possible trade scenarios http://www.freep.com/article/20140601/SPORTS05/306010079 … via @freep ... In addition to deciding on a backup goaltender, discussions will focus on how to add a top-four defenseman and a top-six forward. The UFA market isn’t particularly stocked this summer - top defensemen available include Matt Niskanen, Dan Boyle and Andrei Markov, and among forwards, there’s Thomas Vanek and, possibly, Paul Statsny. There’s also the possibility of trading, especially if Vancouver makes available Alexander Edler, a defenseman in whom the Wings have considerable interest. It's really just a blurb at the end of a larger article, and even that last part discusses other options in free agency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetrPrucha25 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 With all the swedes on Detroits roster I could see him waiving to go play there. If we could get Smith/Kindl + Jurco/Sheahan for Edler + pick then the Canucks get younger and free up some more cap space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Barzal Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 The Red Wings will magically turn Eddy into a Norris calibre work horse. I can see it already. God damn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Aren't the Red Wings always interested in Edler every year? But now we don't have Gillis anymore. Which VC means a trade could actually be facilitated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Id be willing to eat Weiss' contract with Mantha and a 1st for an Edler + combo. Although I know the inevitable comments will pour in about how Edler is totally worthless. GM's still desire him regardless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharnhayre Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 The Red Wings will magically turn Eddy into a Norris calibre work horse. I can see it already. God damn. Knowing our luck this is exactly what will happen.. and at a $5M cap hit... genious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetrPrucha25 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Id be willing to eat Weiss' contract with Mantha and a 1st for an Edler + combo. Although I know the inevitable comments will pour in about how Edler is totally worthless. GM's still desire him regardless I highly doubt Detroit gives up Mantha unless Kesler is going back in the deal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummin' Canuck Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 In the past Edler's alluded to not wanting to waive his no trade, but if if there was ever a team he might waive for I agree with some previous posters that the Swede connection in DET makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anti-Bettman Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Linden seems to speak highly of Edler and I kind of agree with him. The kid's not bad, he just needs a Salo-type player to play alongside him and a coach that will actually help him progress. I still think there's a really great player in Edler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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