Red Wings Loaning Prospect to Swedish Club

Defenseman Anton Johansson was making a strong impression when the Detroit Red Wings draftee was making a late-season AHL cameo with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

“I see a big guy who skates,” Griffins coach Dan Watson said of Johansson during the Calder Cup playoffs. “He’s got that snarl to his game when he wants it. He plays long, he’s got a good stick.

“I’ve liked everything I’ve seen about him, to be honest with you. So, he’s going to continue to develop and he’s a really good prospect.”

Seger 1-0🚨 Anton Johansson with a shot that bounces to Seger’s stick and he buries it. #LGRW #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/EpKifvG6UI

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) April 11, 2025

Evidently, he’ll be doing that back home.

Despite the rave reviews, Leksands IF, Johansson’s Swedish club, is announcing that Johansson will be returning to play for them on loan from the Red Wings for the 2025-25 SHL season.

“Anton made a strong impression in Grand Rapids in the last part of their season and we have had very open and honest discussions with Detroit and (Red Wings GM) Steve Yzerman, who have shown great confidence in us at Leksands IF to continue developing Anton,” Leksands sporting director and Anton’s father Thomas Johansson said in a statement on the team’s website.

Red Wings Deep In AHL Defensemen

In recent days, the Red Wings were signing defenseman Antti Tuomisto and William Lagesson, who will both be playing for the Griffins next season. William Wallinder, Shai Buium and even Axel Sandin Pellikka will likely also figure in the Grand Rapids rearguard for next season. Nicklas Andrews and Jacob Truscott are signed to AHL contracts with the Griffins.

At the same time, there does appear to be a puzzling element to this decision. Anton Johansson just turned 21. Fellow Detroit draftees Wallinder, Tuomisto and Buium all became full-time AHL pros at 21.

Love to see Anton Johansson protecting Cossa. Tuomisto has been more physical as of late as well with the arrival of Johansson. #GoGRG #LGRW pic.twitter.com/ueChEez028

— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) April 17, 2025

Anton Johansson is a defender who likes to mix it up and play a physical game. The sense is that the Red Wings brass figures he needs to bulk up more before being ready to battle for space on the ice in the AHL.

“Anton is developing strongly and has his strengths in his physical game, his mobility and his sense of play,” Thomas Johansson said. “He can play all forms of play and is a bit mean on the ice.

“We see that his development lies in building muscle, and it feels incredibly good that we get to keep Anton for another year.”

Johansson Okay With Decision

With Leksand, Anton Johansson is likely going to see top-four work. He’ll be getting more ice time than he might in the AHL.

He seems to be okay with the decision.

“It was incredibly fun and educational for me to finish away in the USA,” he said. “Being able to carry with me all the experience I gained there, I think, will be of great benefit for the upcoming season.

“I think it will be incredibly fun and educational to develop even more in Leksand. This is where my journey took off. I know that it will be incredibly good for me next season to continue developing in Leksand and build on even more experience in the SHL.”