Detroit Red Wings
· 2026-06-30
The Detroit Red Wings have signed William Wallinder, a defenseman drafted in the second round at No. 32 in 2020, to a two-year, two-way contract.
Wallinder, who turns 24 on July 28, has spent the past three seasons playing professional hockey for the Wings' top farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
He had a career-high 20 points and plus-21 rating in 66 games in 2025-26.
The 2026-27 season projects to be an interesting one in Wallinder's regard, as he is no longer exempt from waivers.
The Wings will have to decide if there's room for him on their roster, or risk exposing him on waivers to send him to the minors, once training camp/exhibition season ends in September.
And with only four exhibition games now that the NHL is switching to an 84-game format, Wallinder will have to make a quick impression.
The Wings already have a pretty full house on the back end, with NHL regulars Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Justin Faulk, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Albert Johansson signed through next season.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka, a first-round pick from 2023, recorded 21 points in 68 appearances as a rookie with the Wings.
So the competition for a spot on the roster will be fierce, and Wallinder will have to prove himself to earn a place.
As of June 30, 2026, the Detroit Red Wings stand 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 41-31 record, on a L3 streak.
But Wallinder has never appeared in an NHL game, and has seven goals and 47 assists in 194 AHL games.
By contrast, forward J.J. Peterka, drafted two spots later by the Buffalo Sabres, already has three straight 20-plus goal seasons and 197 points in 320 NHL games to his resume.
The team may deem him valuable in a trade package if he doesn't make the cut.