The Detroit Red Wings have recalled defenseman William Lagesson from the AHL. Lagesson will serve as a fill-in for top defense prospect Simon Edvinsson, who is expected to be out this weekend with an upper-body injury, per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. Both players are inactive for Detroit’s Friday night game against Montreal.
This is already Lagesson’s third call up of the season. Despite that, he’s yet to actually step into the Red Wings lineup – with the entirety of his ice time instead coming in the minor leagues. Lagesson has recorded eight points in 20 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins – second-most among the team’s defenders. He spent nearly all of the 2023-24 season on NHL rosters, starting the year with the Toronto Maple Leafs and ending it with the Anaheim Ducks, courtesy of a March waiver claim. Lagesson played in 40 NHL games in the year – split 30 and 10 between Toronto and Anaheim, though four assists in Toronto would stand as his only scoring.
Lagesson played in 60 NHL games prior to last season, split between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. He only added seven assists in those appearances, dragging the quest for his first NHL goal through parts of five seasons. He’s been much more reliable as a minor-leaguer, tallying 23 goals and 80 points across 193 games and six seasons in the AHL.
Lagesson will back up the injured Edvinsson, who’s been a top pair option for Detroit when healthy. Playing through his first full year in the NHL, Edvinsson has scored three goals and 13 points in 30 games. He led the Grand Rapids Griffins in scoring last season, with 30 points in 54 games. Edvinsson will look to slot back in on Monday. If he can’t, he’ll have to wait until after the holiday break – when Detroit takes on Toronto on December 27th.
Redwings have not only lost the offense edge, they can’t defend either. Passes to no one, dump ins dump outs both resulting in more turn overs than a bakery. Forechecking by reaching in with the sticks instead of dealing with the opponents in control of the puck. But let me stop there. Its starting to have the feel of the 2019-20 season. I’d make an analogy to the present political situation but will refrain from doing so. Suffice to say it is a bit of “The Gang Who Couldn’t Shoot Straight”…..again. Sorry for turning negative but its hard to stay positive.
Wings are getting blown out tonight by Montreal..will be surprised if LaLonde is still coaching this sad sack team after the Christmas break
Yzerman is as much (or more?) to blame for putting together this group of forwards that cant score and defensemen that are old and slow.
After the Montreal loss Saturday night, the team looked like “oh, screw it”…..If you played in the beer leagues its like that 3rd period, you’re losing 8 zip and that sub goalie they sent in is 79 years old. All you can do is dump the puck out and go for a change. (Envision a wink of the eye here).
Maybe there will be a little bit more gas in the Wing’s tank after Christmas and some family time.