Maple Leafs Trade Pitch Ditches Ben Danford For Red Wings 6-Foot-6 Blueliner

A hypothetical trade proposal from PuckPedia's PuckGM suggests the Toronto Maple Leafs acquire 6-foot-6 restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson from the Detroit Red Wings. In return, the proposal would see Detroit receive Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, a 2027 first-round draft pick, and a 2028 second-round draft pick, with Toronto shedding $900,000 in salary.

The pitch follows reports that Edvinsson prefers a trade away from Detroit, though Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff stated re-signing him remains a priority. Caleb Kerney of Heavy argues adding Edvinsson would upgrade Toronto's left-side defense, bolster their power play, and potentially create flexibility to make future roster adjustments.