Could another Detroit Red Wings farmhand be leaving the Grand Rapids Griffins? According to reports in the Swedish media, Griffins defenseman William Lagesson has been approached by Frölunda about committing to a future contract with the SHL team.

Lagesson, 30, played his junior hockey for Frolunda. The Swedish rearguard has played in North America since 2014, except for the 2017-18 season, when he was with Djurgården. His coach at Djurgården was Robert Ohlsson, the current Frölunda coach.

Lagesson signed with the Red Wings as a UFA in 2024. Though he’s mostly played in the AHL with Grand Rapids, Lagesson did spend seven games with the Red Wings during the 2024-25 NHL season.

He’ll be a UFA at season’s end.

Red Wings Pick Learning Lessons

Detroit selected Swedish winger Charlie Forslund with the 176th pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He was seen as a project at the time. Over two years later, the 20-year-old prospect is still seeking to put all the pieces together.

Forslund is playing with Almtuna in Hockeyallsvenskan, the Swedish second division. He has accounted for 3-7-10 totals in 17 games. However, he’s potted two goals in the past five games and collected six points in his past 10 games.

Forslund has also dished out an assist in five SHL games with Brynas. He knows he’s still got work to do to prove he belongs in Sweden’s top league.

“You get punished more severely in the SHL if you make mistakes,” Forslund told Swedish Hockey News.

Detroit Draftee in High Demand

Another player with Red Wings connections is being pursued vigorously in the future contract market by several clubs. However, defenseman Eemil Viro appears set on staying put.

According to Swedish website Expressen, Viro is set on signing another contract with the Malmo Redhawks. He’s been solid for Malmo since joining the club at the start of last season. He skates in a pairing with Oliwer Kaski, another former Red Wings farmhand.

Malmo sports director Oscar Alsenfelt, while admitting they desire to keep Viro, insists no deal is in place.

“Nothing is clear, Alsenfelt said. “We are in talks with some players and some agents. That’s what I have to say at the moment.”

The Red Wings selected the Finnish defender 70th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Viro spent three seasons with the AHL Griffins before leaving last season as an RFA. The Red Wings still maintain his NHL rights.

Former Red Wings Player Out a Month

HC Davos of the Swiss National League will have to do without former Red Wings forward Filip Zadina for at least a month. He’ll be undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury.

Zadina is leading Davos in both goals and points with 8-7-15 totals in 19 games.

The sixth player chosen in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Zadina played 190 games for Detroit from 2018 to 2023, scoring 28 goals.