The Red Wings have brought back Carter Gylander on a one-year, two-way contract, keeping the 25-year-old goaltender in the organization after he had been a restricted free agent.
Gylander’s path has been a long climb since Detroit picked him in the seventh round in 2019. He headed to Colgate University and put together four steady seasons there, appearing in 106 games from 2020-24.
His junior year was the one that really jumped off the page: he set a program record with 1,044 saves, which ranked fifth in the college game for 2022-23, and he started 39 of Colgate’s 40 games while logging more than 2,000 minutes, the second-most in school history. That season also ended with Colgate winning the ECAC title, its second ever, and earning a trip to the NCAA tournament before Michigan knocked the underdogs out in a lopsided defeat in which now Devil Luke Hughes had five points.
Gylander signed his first pro deal in March 2024 and joined Grand Rapids on a tryout agreement, getting practice time with the Griffins but no game action that spring. He then made his AHL debut the following season, appearing three times for Grand Rapids and winning two of those starts while spending most of his time with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. His route was crowded by Sebastian Cossa, along with veterans like Ville Husso and Jack Campbell.
Last season was his strongest showing yet. Gylander played eight games for a Griffins team that won 51 times, and he made the most of those chances with seven wins and a .942 save percentage. In Toledo, he was back in the net for 34 games for the second straight year, handling the bulk of the starts and finishing with two shutouts.
Even with Cossa traded to Utah this summer, the crease picture in Grand Rapids is still busy. Trey Augustine is in the mix, and Czech free agent Michal Postava, 24, arrived in North America and posted a .937 save percentage in 25 games for the Griffins.
For Detroit, Gylander remains the kind of depth piece that has earned his keep the hard way. He may still spend plenty of time in the ECHL in 2026-27, but he gives the organization another option as he looks to push past the 10-game mark in the AHL next season. With Gylander signed, Simon Edvinsson is the notable remaining RFA for the Red Wings.
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