Carter Gylander’s path through the Red Wings organization has taken a little longer than most, but he’s still here, and now he’s getting a real chance to show what he can do.
The 191st overall pick in 2019 has spent years developing without much fanfare, while Detroit cycled through a new wave of goaltending prospects and even added Michal Postava. Yet Gylander stayed in the mix, holding onto his place in the organization and setting his eyes on a full-time role with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
That patience fits his track record. Born in Beaumont, Alberta, Canada, on June 5, 2001, Gylander is listed at 6’5” and 190 lbs. That size stands out in a goalie group that also includes the smaller-framed Trey Augustine and Postava, and it gives him the kind of build that matches the NHL mold.
His road to pro hockey wasn’t a straight line. Before landing at Colgate University for the 2020-21 season, Gylander moved through AA, AAA, and AJHL hockey. He then spent four seasons with Colgate, appearing in 106 games and finishing with a 2.71 goals against average, a .906 save percentage, and a 46-46-13 record.
Once that college run ended, he had the option to sign elsewhere. Instead, he remained with the team that drafted him.
Gylander’s professional career started in the 2024-25 season, and since then he has split time between Grand Rapids and Toledo. This season, he has already appeared in one game for each club.
With Toledo, he posted a 5.02 GAA and an .844 SV% in a 6-3 loss to the Fort Wayne Comets. With Grand Rapids, he turned in a 2.00 GAA and a .923 SV% in a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Monsters.
He’s not treating that as anything negative. After Saturday’s game, Gylander said he has two sets of teams and teammates, and that he enjoys seeing the returning players just as much as meeting the new ones.
He also sounds comfortable in his own skin. Gylander isn’t overly flashy, but he believes he has played well in his chances with the Griffins, and he noted that Grand Rapids players keep things predictable and help him see the puck well.
That impression has gone both ways. Grand Rapids fans and the coaching staff have clearly taken to him, and they appear willing to use him whenever needed.
For Gylander, the push continues. The goal is still the NHL, and the Red Wings may have another quietly steady goaltender moving closer to that next step.
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