Red Wings Farmhand Lagesson Has Future in UFC

A little over a week ago, William Lagesson was given a recall to the Detroit Red Wings. However, the Swedish defenseman from the Grand Rapids Griffins wasn’t suiting up during Detroit’s California trip prior to returning to the AHL.

This weekend, Lagesson also won’t be suiting up. And this time, it’s an AHL decision making it so.

The AHL was issuing a three-game suspension to the Red Wings farmhand for putting an opposing player in an MMA chokehold during an on-ice altercation as Grand Rapids was beating the Iowa Wild on Sunday.

Meanwhile in the AHL, we've got rear naked chokes happening on the ice, courtesy of Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman William Lagesson. Iowa Wild winger Adam Raska even tapped out… (Minor penalty for roughing on the play) pic.twitter.com/3LqaTtwcXu

— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) November 26, 2024

Lagesson found himself on top of Iowa’s Adam Raska as they fell to the ice during their scrap. The Swede wrapped his left arm around Raska’s neck and began squeezing. Raska could clearly be seen tapping out with his gloved left hand.

In UFC circles, they call this a rear naked choke. However, it hockey circles, it was only worth a minor penalty of two minutes for roughing to Lagesson.

Clearly, the American Hockey League’s Player Safety Committee was viewing this as a much more serious offense, one requiring the enacting of supplemental discipline.

“Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman William Lagesson has been suspended for three games as a consequence of a roughing incident in a game vs. Iowa on Nov. 24,” the league announced in a statement released on Tuesday afternoon.

Lagesson Will Miss Griffins Weekend Series

The Griffins are playing three games in three nights beginning on Friday. They’ll be doing so without one of their top defenders.

Lagesson will miss Grand Rapids’ games Friday facing the Milwaukee Admirals, Saturday at the Chicago Wolves and Sunday against the Cleveland Monsters.

BOTD Alex Karras
Alex was a NCAA wrestling champion
4x Pro Bowl
3x All-Pro#Lions #OnePride pic.twitter.com/07hrFprhJE

— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) July 15, 2022

Once while under NFL suspenion, Detroit Lions legend Alex Karras was launching a career as a professional wrestler. Perhaps this weekend while his skates are in drydock, Lagesson can reach out to Dana White and see if there are any openings on UFC cards.