Another familiar name in the Red Wings pipeline may be on the move, and this one would take him back across the Atlantic.
According to reports in the Swedish media, Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman William Lagesson has been approached by Frölunda about committing to a future contract with the SHL club. Lagesson, 30, came up through Frölunda’s junior system before beginning his North American career in 2014. The one exception came in 2017-18, when he played for Djurgården under current Frölunda coach Robert Ohlsson.
Lagesson signed with Detroit as a UFA in 2024 and has spent most of his time with Grand Rapids, though he did get into seven games with the Red Wings during the 2024-25 NHL season. He’ll be a UFA at season’s end.
There’s also movement around another Red Wings draft pick still trying to find his footing in Sweden. Charlie Forslund, Detroit’s 176th pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, was viewed as a project when he was selected, and that hasn’t changed much two years later.
The 20-year-old winger is with Almtuna in Hockeyallsvenskan, where he has posted 3-7-10 in 17 games. He’s picked up steam lately, though, scoring two goals in his last five games and collecting six points over his past 10.
Forslund has also appeared in five SHL games with Brynas and knows the next step is proving he can handle the top level. “You get punished more severely in the SHL if you make mistakes,” Forslund told Swedish Hockey News.
Elsewhere, Eemil Viro appears headed toward staying in Sweden. The defenseman is drawing interest from multiple clubs in the future contract market, but Swedish website Expressen says he is set on signing another deal with the Malmo Redhawks. Viro has been steady for Malmo since joining the club at the start of last season, lining up alongside Oliwer Kaski, another former Red Wings farmhand.
Malmo sports director Oscar Alsenfelt said the club wants to keep Viro, but nothing is done yet. “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.”
Detroit drafted Viro 70th overall in 2020. He spent three seasons with the AHL Griffins before leaving last season as an RFA, and the Red Wings still hold his NHL rights.
One more former Red Wings player is dealing with a setback in Europe. HC Davos forward Filip Zadina will be out for at least a month after undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury. Zadina has been Davos’ most productive player this season, leading the team with 8-7-15 in 19 games.
Detroit took Zadina sixth overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and he played 190 games for the Red Wings from 2018 to 2023, scoring 28 goals.
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