Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Sign Anton Johansson
Swedish defenseman will join AHL Griffins
The Detroit Red Wings now officially go two deep in defenseman named Johansson with the first initial of A. On Thursday, the club was signing Anton Johansson to a three-year entry-level contract.
Anton Johansson will be immediately joining Detroit’s top farm club, the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. That’s where Albert Johansson spent the past two seasons prior to making the grade with the Red Wings this season.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed defenseman Anton Johansson to a three-year entry-level contract beginning in 2025-26.
He will report to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur tryout. pic.twitter.com/7w8V95P3NN
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 13, 2025
The two Johanssons are not related, other than by the fact they are both Swedish and play defense. Anton Johansson was selected 105th overall by the Red Wings in the 2022 NHL entry draft. He’s the second player from that draft class to sign with Detroit, following current Red Wings center Marco Kasper.
This season, Anton Johansson, 20, was playing for Leksand of the SHL. He counted 5-5-10 totals in 46 games, along with a minus-one rating at 50 penalty minutes. He’s already played 117 SHL games.
On Wednesday, the club’s season was ending in heartbreak. While Leksand lost to Frolunda, both Orebo and Rogle were winning, thus bouncing Leksand from a playoff spot.
Red Wings Prospect Played For Sweden
The 6-foot-4, 172-pound Johansson suited up for Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning a silver medal. His utliliztion during that tournament was mostly in a role suppling a physical presence.
Johansson will play the remainder of the AHL season on a professional tryout contract. That way, any action he sees won’t be counting against his entry-level pact.
Johansson discussed making the transition to the North American game while attending the Red Wings development camp last summer.
“Definitely the rink,” Johansson listed as his biggest challenge. “It’s a lot smaller, it’s a lot tougher, it’s a lot faster.”
Detroit player development director Dan Cleary likes what he’s seen from Johansson’s game.
“He’s driven, a competitive kid,” Cleary said. “He’s passionate.”
He will need to put on about twenty pounds of muscle before he will be of any use to us. Here’s hoping.
Remember reading good things about the OTHER Johansson and GR needs another like the other Johansson who’s now on the Wings.
Watched him play two years ago at the World Summer Showcase in Plymouth, the kid hits and can skate. But just like stated, he’s gonna need some LBs. But excited for him.