Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Re-Sign Defenseman Lagesson
Coulier to announce club’s first-round pick
The Detroit Red Wings have made their first move of NHL entry draft day. However, it’s not one that’s going to be moving the needle in terms of excitement value.
The club announced that it was re-signing defenseman William Lagesson. The two sides have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension. Though the 29-year-old Swede spent much of last season with the Red Wings, he only saw action in seven NHL games. He was also playing 23 games for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed defenseman William Lagesson to a two-year contract extension. pic.twitter.com/sHU9K0jCEJ
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 27, 2025
He’ll certainly be filling that type of role again over the next two seasons. Expect Lagesson to be in Grand Rapids to start the season, and to be available to fill in should the club run into injuries on the back end.
Every team in the league has players like that.
“There are players in the league that end up in those roles and they’re fortunate to be in the league, but they’re there because they can adapt and do those things,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “And I think of my time here in Detroit earlier with Mark Mowers and Jamie Rivers and these type of experienced pros, they’re not young kids and they kept themselves well conditioned and ready to play. And when their number was called, they went in and played.
“It’s good to have those players in the organization.”
Currently, he’s the only defenseman under contract with NHL playing experience who’s likely to end up with the Griffins. Lagesson could also prove valuable in Grand Rapids as a mentor to Swedish rookie Axel Sandin Pellikka. The two could even end up as defense partners.
Sandin Pellikka, a 2023 first-round pick, will be playing his first full pro season in North America.
Coulier To Announce Red Wings First Pick
The Red Wings were also announcing Friday that comedian and star of the Full House TV series Dave Coulier will be taking part in draft night festivities. He’ll be helping to announce the Red Wings first round pick.
You got it, dude! 👍 @DaveCoulier will help us announce our first round pick at tonight’s #NHLDraft!
⏰ 7PM EST
📺 @ESPN pic.twitter.com/JNtzETeITy— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 27, 2025
An avid Red Wings fan, Coulier was given a diagnosis of Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in November 2024. He underwent multiple surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. In April 2025, following a lymph node biopsy, it was announced that Coulier was cancer-free.
One thing to keep in mind about this plan. Since the club is announcing Uncle Joey as their draft pick revealer, it means the Red Wings are planning on making the selection. They won’t be trading the pick.
