The Detroit Red Wings may finally have a trade partner capable of making a Simon Edvinsson blockbuster worth considering. But would the Utah Mammoth really sacrifice one of their most valuable young prospects, Caleb Desnoyers, to make it happen?
That is the question surrounding a potential Detroit–Utah trade, and the answer could depend on how aggressively the Mammoth want to reshape their blue line.
With Edvinsson still unsigned and reportedly preferring a trade, Detroit is facing an increasingly difficult decision. The Red Wings can continue working toward a contract agreement or explore what another organization might surrender for a 23-year-old, top-four defenseman with significant upside.
Utah has the prospects, draft picks and organizational depth to make a competitive offer. However, Desnoyers is not simply another trade chip. He is a potential future top-six NHL center and one of the cornerstones of the Mammoth’s prospect pipeline.
My assessment: Desnoyers is exactly the type of asset that would get Detroit’s attention. The bigger question is whether Utah should make him available in the first place.
Why Simon Edvinsson Trade Rumors Are Getting More Serious
The situation surrounding Simon Edvinsson has developed beyond the typical contract negotiation that accompanies a restricted free agent.
On October 3, Sportsnet reported that Edvinsson would prefer a trade from the Detroit Red Wings. Elliotte Friedman subsequently reported that Detroit had made longer-term contract offers after initially favouring a bridge deal.
That second development is significant.
It suggests Detroit is not simply waiting for Edvinsson to lower his expectations. The organization is trying to find common ground while evaluating the market for a young defenseman it would undoubtedly prefer not to lose.
Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has publicly described Edvinsson as a priority, emphasizing the organization’s desire to get him signed.
And there is good reason for that stance.
At 6-foot-6, Edvinsson possesses a combination of reach, mobility and defensive awareness that is difficult to replace. He can close gaps, disrupt entries, make an effective first pass and handle demanding defensive assignments.
He also has experience playing alongside Moritz Seider, giving Detroit a potentially formidable defensive foundation for years to come.
Losing that combination would create another significant problem for an organization already navigating considerable uncertainty.
The Red Wings should not trade Edvinsson simply because the contract negotiations have become uncomfortable. They need a return that meaningfully improves their future.
Why Caleb Desnoyers Could Be Detroit’s Most Interesting Trade Target
Caleb Desnoyers immediately stands out when examining Utah’s prospect pool.
Selected fourth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old center recorded 22 goals and 56 assists for 78 points in 45 games with the Moncton Wildcats during the 2025–26 QMJHL season.
The previous season, Desnoyers registered 84 points in 56 games.
Those numbers demonstrate substantial offensive development, but I believe his value extends beyond point production.
Desnoyers has the hockey intelligence, vision and playmaking ability that NHL organizations covet in young centers. He can help drive possession, distribute the puck and become a reliable option through the middle of the ice.
Detroit already has promising young forwards, but adding another potential impact center would provide considerable flexibility.
That is especially important given the uncertainty surrounding Dylan Larkin’s future in Detroit.
Desnoyers would not immediately replace everything Edvinsson provides. He is an unproven NHL prospect, and his development carries the normal risks associated with transitioning from junior hockey.
Still, when evaluating players who could realistically headline a rebuilding trade package, Desnoyers possesses the pedigree and offensive upside Detroit should be looking for.
NHLTradeRumor.com scouting observation: Desnoyers’ greatest asset may be his ability to create opportunities for teammates. His 56 assists last season suggest a player whose value is not dependent solely on scoring goals.
Caleb Desnoyers: 3-Year Scoring Trend
QMJHL regular-season points per game
Source: QMJHL regular-season statistics, 2023–24 through 2025–26. Bars use a common maximum of 1.73 PPG. Junior scoring does not directly predict NHL production.
Why the Utah Mammoth Could Be Interested in Simon Edvinsson
From Utah’s perspective, acquiring Edvinsson would represent a commitment to strengthening an already promising roster.
The Mammoth have assembled an intriguing group of young players, complemented by established NHL veterans.
Their defense includes Mikhail Sergachev, MacKenzie Weegar, John Marino, Nate Schmidt and Dmitri Simashev.
That creates an interesting complication.
Utah does not necessarily need another left-shot defenseman. Sergachev already occupies a prominent role, while Simashev remains an important part of the organization’s future.
However, Edvinsson offers something valuable: another young, physically imposing defenseman capable of playing difficult minutes.
He could give Utah more flexibility against bigger opponents and help the Mammoth build a defense that remains competitive well into the future.
From watching how successful playoff teams construct their blue lines, one thing consistently stands out to me: depth matters, but having several defensemen capable of handling difficult matchups matters even more.
Edvinsson potentially provides that kind of flexibility.
There is also an existing connection between these organizations. Utah acquired goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa from Detroit during the 2026 offseason.
That does not establish an active negotiation involving Edvinsson, but it shows the clubs have previously found common ground on a significant prospect transaction.
Would Utah Really Trade Caleb Desnoyers?
This is where the proposal becomes much more complicated.
Desnoyers is the type of young center organizations spend years trying to acquire.
A fourth-overall selection who continues developing offensively carries considerable long-term value, especially while remaining under team control.
Giving up that opportunity for Edvinsson would be a substantial decision for Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong.
It also creates a question about organizational priorities.
Would Utah rather build around its current defensive group while keeping Desnoyers, Tij Iginla and other promising forwards?
Or does Armstrong believe adding Edvinsson would push the Mammoth significantly closer to becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender?
My preference would be to protect Desnoyers unless Utah believes Edvinsson can become a foundational defenseman for the next seven or eight seasons.
There is a difference between trading prospects for help and trading away a potential cornerstone.
Desnoyers belongs in the second category.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index: Edvinsson vs. Desnoyers
Evaluating this hypothetical trade requires looking beyond draft position and raw statistics.
Edvinsson has already demonstrated that he can handle NHL competition. Desnoyers has the potential to become an impact center but has not yet established himself at that level.
Edvinsson provides greater immediate certainty. Desnoyers offers valuable long-term upside and contract flexibility.
Our editorial trade-value model considers current NHL value, projected ceiling, age and control, positional scarcity and transaction risk.
Trade Value Index
Who carries more value in a potential Detroit–Utah deal?
Methodology: Five editorial categories, each scored 0–20 for a maximum of 100. Transaction certainty reflects contract and development risks. Ratings are subjective and are not equivalent to an NHL club’s asking price. A three-point difference does not imply a specific draft-pick adjustment.
The model highlights why neither player should be treated as an interchangeable asset.
Detroit would be surrendering an established young NHL defender.
Utah would potentially be surrendering a future offensive centerpiece.
I would expect Detroit to ask whether another meaningful asset could be included, but there is no verified report establishing that Desnoyers has been offered or that the clubs have agreed on an asking price.
A trade centered on these two players would require serious negotiations over their projected value.
The Salary Cap Could Be Utah’s Biggest Obstacle
Any potential Edvinsson trade must also account for his next contract.
The defenseman is currently a restricted free agent without an active NHL contract. His previous deal carried a cap hit of approximately $894,000.
His next agreement will be considerably more expensive. AFP Analytics projection of approximately $8.8 million annually on a seven-year contract. That figure is a projection, not an agreed salary.
Utah has approximately $4.58 million in available cap space against the NHL’s $104 million ceiling.
At a hypothetical $8.8 million annual cap hit, Utah would need to clear roughly $4.02 million before accounting for other roster changes.
That is an important part of this discussion.
Simply sending Desnoyers to Detroit would not automatically create sufficient cap room because the young forward is not currently counted as part of Utah’s active NHL cap allocation.
Utah would likely have to restructure its roster, move an existing contract or negotiate a different salary figure.
Can Utah Afford Simon Edvinsson?
Adjust the hypothetical contract and outgoing salary to explore a possible trade.
Source: CapWages, October 8, 2026. Starting cap room: $4,777,108. The $8.8M default is a reported AFP Analytics contract projection, not a signed agreement. Simplified full-season AAV arithmetic excludes timing, bonuses, roster-replacement costs, contract clauses and other CBA considerations. Desnoyers’ non-roster contract is not assumed to provide cap relief.
These calculations help explain why an attractive trade on paper does not necessarily translate into an executable NHL transaction.
What Would a Detroit–Utah Trade Actually Look Like?
A hypothetical framework worth discussing would involve Detroit receiving Caleb Desnoyers as the principal young asset in a deal for Simon Edvinsson's rights.
Additional draft compensation or roster pieces could become part of the discussion depending on Edvinsson's contract expectations. Utah would then have to solve its cap situation separately or within a larger transaction.
This is an editorial scenario, not a reported trade offer.
For Detroit, the motivation would be acquiring a potential future center while navigating the uncertainty surrounding Edvinsson.
For Utah, the appeal would be converting a high-end forward prospect into a young defenseman who can contribute immediately.
The challenge is that neither organization can afford to make a decision solely for short-term convenience.
The Mammoth must weigh their chances of competing now against the possibility that Desnoyers becomes a central part of their offense.
Detroit must evaluate whether the return genuinely compensates for losing a defenseman with Edvinsson's uncommon physical tools.
My Prediction: Detroit Should Demand Desnoyers, but Utah Should Think Twice
If I were evaluating offers for the Detroit Red Wings, Desnoyers would be among the first names I would ask Utah about.
His draft pedigree, strong junior production and long-term upside make him a logical centerpiece.
However, I would not assume Utah is willing to part with him.
The Mammoth already have substantial defensive talent, and their biggest challenge may be finding the right balance between their current roster and future core.
For that reason, I believe Utah should investigate what it would take to acquire Edvinsson without sacrificing Desnoyers before considering an offer built around him.
From Detroit's perspective, settling for a collection of secondary assets would be a mistake.
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The post Simon Edvinsson Trade Rumors: Is Caleb Desnoyers the Piece That Finally Gets Utah a Deal? appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
