Defenseman William Wallinder signs entry-level deal with the Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings agreed to terms with defenseman William Wallinder on a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday.
The contract takes effect beginning in 2023-2024; in the interim, Wallinder will play out the season in the Red Wings organization with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.
UPDATE: The #RedWings today signed defenseman William Wallinder to a three-year entry-level contract beginning with the 2023-24 season.
Wallinder will report to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. pic.twitter.com/EnXB5HFDxW
Wallinder was the first selection of the second round and the 32nd player off the board when Detroit drafted him in 2020.
The Swede played for Rogle BK before they bowed out in the second round of the SHL playoffs during his second season of top-division European hockey. Wallinder helped Rogle win the coveted Champions Hockey League as a rookie in 2021-2022.
Wallinder’s 6’4, 190 lb frame and on-ice discipline jump off the page of his player profile; in 97 SHL games, he racked up just 16 penalty minutes.
The left-handed shot has also scored at a respectable rate in his SHL career, collecting 11 goals and 45 points over that period, or .46 a point per game.
Wallinder will use his AHL stint to adjust to the size and speed of the North American game before vying for a roster spot in the fall.
Simon Edvinsson, who previously played with Wallinder for Sweden at the World Juniors and was drafted 6th overall by the Wings in 2021, will be among the defenseman in the mix for a place on the team. Edvinsson is currently with the NHL club thanks to an injury to Ben Chiarot.
Chiarot, recently extended veterans Olli Maatta and Jake Walman, and former Calder winner Moritz Seider will anchor the Red Wings defense in 2023-2024.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will hope that one or both of Edvinsson and Wallinder can invigorate that group, which is currently in the bottom 12 in the NHL in team GAA.
The Red Wings will be back in action on Tuesday when they try to get back to .500 at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins.