Red Wings Assign Anton Johansson To AHL
The Detroit Red Wings shared that prospect Anton Johansson has been assigned to AHL Grand Rapids, coming from Leksands of the SHL.
A fourth round selection in 2022, the 6’4″ defenseman made a nice impression last spring in 11 games during his tryout with the Griffins, recording five points. Sent back to his native Sweden for 2025-26, the righty was a bright spot as a key youngster for Leksands this year, posting 17 points and 49 penalty minutes in 42 contests, a solid step forward from the year prior.
Inking his entry level contract last year, the 21-year-old is not thought to be among the team’s highest ranked farmhands in a deep pool. However, he brings size, physical edge, and enough puck moving skills to be a continued riser as a great find at 105th overall. Considering that their third pairing and overall defensive depth has been a sore spot at times, Johansson is coming in with a real path forward into becoming a Red Wings mainstay.
Joining an elite AHL team for their stretch run as he makes the full time transition to North America, Johansson will be in a favorable situation in Grand Rapids. Losing Justin Holl to St. Louis in the Justin Faulk trade, the Griffins benefit from adding a physical youngster who has plenty of professional experience from Sweden, as well as prior time spent with the team. Johansson will also get to learn under fellow countrymen in veterans Erik Gustafsson and William Lagesson.
In all likelihood, Johansson won’t debut rocking the Winged Wheel for some time, but fans will eagerly watch his continued development in Grand Rapids next season as an ascending prospect. Detroit is facing the possible disappointment of missing the postseason again, but even if such is the case, their top prospect pool offers much to be excited about, especially as it aligns with the current roster’s needs.
Red Wings Sign Anton Johansson To Entry-Level Contract
The Red Wings announced they’ve signed defense prospect Anton Johansson to his entry-level deal. It’s a three-year pact that doesn’t begin until next season, but he’ll still finish out 2024-25 in the organization on a tryout with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, Johansson isn’t related to fellow Detroit rearguard Albert Johansson. He is, however, the cousin of Sharks center Alexander Wennberg. A 6’4″ right-shot defender, he’s spent his entire professional career to date with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League. This season, the puck-moving blue-liner has 5-5–10 in 46 games with a minus-one rating and a team-high 50 PIMs.
The 20-year-old throws the body frequently, but at a shade under 200 lbs, he’ll likely need to put on a little more weight for his height before he gets a look in NHL minutes. Johansson was ranked as the No. 15 prospect in Detroit’s system by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler last month. He tabbed Johansson as a “high-floor, low-ceiling guy” who can likely serve as good organizational depth out of the gate, but likely doesn’t top out any higher than being a semi-regular third-pairing option.
Nonetheless, he’s another intriguing option in Detroit’s rather deep stable of prospects. They’re thinner at the position now with the graduation of Simon Edvinsson taking on full-time NHL minutes, but still have Shai Buium, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and William Wallinder on the way as higher-ceiling options than Johansson.
Johansson was signed with Leksand through the 2026-27 campaign. In the likely event he doesn’t crack the NHL roster out of camp in the fall, he must first be offered back to Leksands on loan first before being assigned to the AHL because he’s a non-first-round pick under the age of 24. He’ll be a restricted free agent when his NHL deal expires in the summer of 2028.