Nov. 19: The Red Wings announced Tuesday that they’ve reassigned Lagesson back to Grand Rapids. With Edvinsson returning to the lineup, he did not play and instead burned a day off his waiver exemption.
Nov. 18: The Red Wings summoned defenseman William Lagesson from AHL Grand Rapids on Monday, per a team announcement. Detroit had an open spot on the active roster, so no corresponding transaction is necessary.
It’s the first recall for Lagesson after he cleared waivers before the regular season. He comes up from the AHL with the Red Wings in need of an extra defenseman after Simon Edvinsson missed Saturday’s game against the Kings with a lower-body injury.
Lagesson, 28, signed a one-way deal worth $775K with Detroit in the offseason. He’s coming off an eventful 2023-24 season that saw him unexpectedly set a career-high in games played with 40, making 30 appearances as a depth option for the Maple Leafs before being selected off waivers by the Ducks on trade deadline day and playing 10 games for Anaheim down the stretch.
A serviceable option to slot in anywhere between seventh and 10th on a team’s defense depth chart, Lagesson has 11 assists in 100 career NHL games dating back to his debut with the Oilers in the 2019-20 season. The 2014 fourth-round pick has long since solidified himself as a premier defensive option at the AHL level, playing a well-rounded game and leveraging his 6’2″, 207-lb frame to be an effective physical factor. His possession numbers at the NHL level have routinely been passable for a depth role, controlling 49.4% of shot attempts when on the ice at even strength.
Lagesson is off to a good start in Grand Rapids, too. In his first AHL action since a five-game run with Toronto early in 2023-24, the Swede has five points in 11 games with a team-high +10 rating, including a +9 mark in his last five outings.
It’s unlikely that strong showing will result in a meaningful NHL audition with Detroit, though. He’s projected to sit in the press box for tonight’s game against the Sharks while serving as last-minute injury insurance with Edvinsson ruled out.
Lagesson, who will be an unrestricted free agent again next summer, can remain on the roster for up to 30 non-consecutive days or play 10 games until he needs waivers again to return to Grand Rapids.
It is starting to feel oddly like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. “Captain, we’re starting to take on a starboard list!”