William Lagesson (born 22 February 1996) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 91st overall, by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2014 NHL entry draft. Lagesson has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks.

William Lagesson
Lagesson with the Edmonton Oilers in 2015
Born (1996-02-22) 22 February 1996 (age 28)
Gothenburg, Sweden
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Detroit Red Wings
Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
Djurgårdens IF
Edmonton Oilers
Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
Anaheim Ducks
NHL draft 91st overall, 2014
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2017–present

Playing career

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Lagesson played as a youth in his native Sweden within the Frölunda HC organization. Following his second season in the J20 SuperElit, Lagesson was drafted in his first year of eligibility by the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the fourth round, 91st overall, of the 2014 NHL entry draft. Opting to continue his development in North America, Lagesson was selected 11th overall in the 2014 United States Hockey League (USHL) Entry Draft by the Dubuque Fighting Saints.[1]

He played in the 2014–15 season with the Fighting Saints of the USHL, before committing to a collegiate career with the University of Massachusetts Amherst of Hockey East. Lagesson played two years with the struggling Minutemen program before leaving after his sophomore season and deciding to turn pro, in signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers on 7 April 2017.[2]

On 8 May 2017, it was announced by the Oilers that Lagesson would spend the 2017–18 season in Sweden on loan with Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).[3] While with Djurgården, Lagesson made his professional debut in solidifying a regular role on the blueline. In 49 appearances, he contributed with 1 goal and 12 assists for 13 points in the regular season.[4] He continued his steady play in the post-season with an assist in 11 games.

Returning to the Oilers over the summer, and after participating in the NHL training camp, Lagesson was assigned to begin the 2018–19 season with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, on 20 September 2018.[5] As an impending restricted free agent with the Oilers and with the commencement 2020–21 North American indefinitely delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North America, Lagesson signed a one-year contract in Sweden with second-tier club, HC Vita Hästen of the HockeyAllsvenskan, on 23 September 2020.[6] He registered three goals and 12 points in 14 games with Vita Hästen.[4]

During the 2021–22 season Lagesson returned to North America and played in 30 games with the Oilers, registering four points and 11 games with the Condors, scoring two points.[7] On 21 March 2022, Lagesson was traded by the Oilers, along with a conditional second round pick in the 2022 NHL entry draft and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenceman Brett Kulak.[7] Following the conclusion of his contract with the Canadiens, Lagesson as a free agent was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on 25 July 2022.[4] However, Lagesson never played with the Hurricanes, spending the entire 2022–23 season with Carolina's AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. He played in 65 games scoring 10 goals and 32 points.[8]

On 1 July 2023, Lagesson left the Hurricanes organization and signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.[8] He attended the Maple Leafs 2023 training camp, but failed to make the team and was placed on waivers. After going unclaimed Lagesson was assigned to the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies to start the 2023–24 season.[9][10] After an injury to Jake McCabe, the Maple Leafs recalled Lagesson on 27 October.[11] He made his Maple Leafs season debut on 28 October in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators.[12][13] Lagesson in a third-pairing role remained with the Maple Leafs and appeared in 30 regular season games adding four assists.

Approaching the NHL trade deadline, Lagesson was placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs, and was subsequently claimed by the Anaheim Ducks on 9 March 2024.[14] Lagesson made his Ducks debut on 12 March 2024 in a 7–2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.[15] He completed the season with the Ducks going scoreless through ten games.[16]

On 1 July 2024, Lagesson signed as a free agent to a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[16] He was placed on waivers and after going unclaimed, was assigned to Detroit's AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapid Griffins, for the 2024–25 season.[17][18]

International play

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Lagesson was selected for Sweden's junior team to play at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[19] However, the team lost the bronze medal game to Slovakia to finish fourth in the tournament.[20] He returned for Sweden at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, playing on the top pair alongside Gustav Forsling, winning their group.[21] However, the team lost the bronze medal game again, this time to the United States. Lagesson scored in the final, but the Americans won the game 8–3.[22]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 Frölunda HC J18 11 0 2 2 0
2011–12 Frölunda HC J18 Allsv 14 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Frölunda HC J18 20 1 12 13 60
2012–13 Frölunda HC J18 Allsv 12 3 3 6 14 3 1 2 3 4
2012–13 Frölunda HC J20 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Frölunda HC J18 Allsv 4 0 1 1 0 5 2 2 4 10
2013–14 Frölunda HC J20 44 8 12 20 30 3 0 1 1 2
2014–15 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL 52 2 14 16 79 8 1 1 2 4
2015–16 UMass Minutemen HE 27 2 5 7 26
2016–17 UMass Minutemen HE 36 2 6 8 28
2017–18 Djurgårdens IF SHL 49 1 12 13 30 11 0 1 1 31
2018–19 Bakersfield Condors AHL 67 8 19 27 45 10 2 2 4 4
2019–20 Bakersfield Condors AHL 25 3 7 10 18
2019–20 Edmonton Oilers NHL 8 0 0 0 0
2020–21 HC Vita Hästen Allsv 11 3 6 9 10
2020–21 Kristianstads IK Allsv 3 0 3 3 2
2020–21 Edmonton Oilers NHL 19 0 2 2 9
2021–22 Bakersfield Condors AHL 11 0 2 2 9
2021–22 Edmonton Oilers NHL 30 0 4 4 13
2021–22 Montreal Canadiens NHL 3 0 1 1 0
2022–23 Chicago Wolves AHL 65 10 22 32 46
2023–24 Toronto Marlies AHL 5 0 1 1 0
2023–24 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 30 0 4 4 19
2023–24 Anaheim Ducks NHL 10 0 0 0 13
SHL totals 49 1 12 13 30 11 0 1 1 31
NHL totals 100 0 11 11 54

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 Sweden U17   6 0 1 1 12
2013 Sweden IH18 7th 4 1 1 2 2
2014 Sweden U18 4th 7 3 0 3 6
2015 Sweden WJC 4th 7 0 1 1 8
2016 Sweden WJC 4th 7 2 1 3 4
Junior totals 31 6 4 10 32

References

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  1. ^ "William Lagesson player profile". Elite Prospects. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  2. ^ Edmonton Oilers [@EdmontonOilers] (7 April 2017). "The #Oilers have signed 2014 fourth-round draft pick, defenceman William Lagesson, to a three-year entry-level contract" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 April 2017 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Edmonton Oilers [@EdmontonOilers] (8 May 2017). "The #Oilers have assigned defenceman William Lagesson to Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2017-18 season" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b c "Canes agree to terms with William Lagesson". Carolina Hurricanes. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022 – via NHL.com.
  5. ^ Edmonton Oilers [@EdmontonOilers] (20 September 2018). "The #Oilers have assigned Tyler Benson, Josh Currie, Joseph Gambardella, Caleb Jones, William Lagesson, Patrick Russell, Ryan Stanton & Dylan Wells to the @Condors, reducing the training camp roster to 35 players" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "William Lagesson ready for Vita Hasten" (in Swedish). HC Vita Hästen. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Brett Kulak traded to Edmonton Oilers". Montreal Canadiens. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022 – via NHL.com.
  8. ^ a b "Maple Leafs sign four players". Toronto Maple Leafs. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023 – via NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Maple Leafs goaltender Martin Jones, five others clear waivers". Sportsnet. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  10. ^ Barden, Nick (8 October 2023). "Maple Leafs Waive Martin Jones and Others to Clear Cap Space Ahead of NHL Regular Season Roster Submission Deadline". The Hockey News. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Maple Leafs re-assign Fraser Minten to WHL, recall William Lagesson". Sportsnet. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  12. ^ Alter, David (28 October 2023). "Maple Leafs to Wear Justin Bieber-Designed Flipside Jerseys Against Predators, Lineups and Where to Watch". The Hockey News. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Josi scores in OT to give Predators 3-2 win over Maple Leafs". ESPN. Associated Press. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Ducks claim defenseman Lagesson on waivers from Toronto". Anaheim Ducks. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via NHL.com.
  15. ^ Weller, Matt (12 March 2024). "Recap: Leason Scores Twice in 7-2 Loss to Chicago". Anaheim Ducks. Retrieved 9 April 2024 – via NHL.com.
  16. ^ a b Roth, Thomas (1 July 2024). "Red Wings sign defenseman William Lagesson to one-year contract". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via NHL.com.
  17. ^ "Red Wings' William Lagesson: Placed on waivers". CBS Sports. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  18. ^ Kulfan, Ted (6 October 2024). "Red Wings trim roster ahead of Monday deadline; Austin Watson appears to survive cut". The Detroit News. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  19. ^ Kennedy, Ryan (27 December 2014). "World Juniors: Dandy Danes stifled by Sweden". The Hockey News. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Slovakia upsets Sweden 4-2 to win bronze medal at 2015 world juniors". Global News. The Canadian Press. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Sweden eases past Canada in Group A finale". TSN. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  22. ^ "U.S. routs Sweden 8-3 to win bronze at world juniors". CTV News. The Canadian Press. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
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