William Lagesson Explained

William Lagesson
Birth Date:1996 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Gothenburg, Sweden
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:207
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Detroit Red Wings
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Djurgårdens IF
Edmonton Oilers
Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
Anaheim Ducks
Draft:91st overall
Draft Year:2014
Draft Team:Edmonton Oilers
Career Start:2017

William Lagesson (born 22 February 1996) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for 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.

Playing career

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, 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]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2011–12Frölunda HCJ18110220
2011–12Frölunda HCJ18 Allsv14011220000
2012–13Frölunda HCJ18 201121360
2012–13Frölunda HCJ18 Allsv123361431234
2012–13Frölunda HCJ206000020000
2013–14Frölunda HCJ18 Allsv40110522410
2013–14Frölunda HCJ2044812203030112
2014–15Dubuque Fighting SaintsUSHL52214167981124
2015–16UMass MinutemenHE2725726
2016–17UMass MinutemenHE3626828
2017–18SHL4911213301101131
2018–19AHL678192745102244
2019–20Bakersfield CondorsAHL25371018
2019–20NHL80000
2020–21HC Vita HästenAllsv1136910
2020–21Kristianstads IKAllsv30332
2020–21Edmonton OilersNHL190229
2021–22Bakersfield CondorsAHL110229
2021–22Edmonton OilersNHL3004413
2021–22Montreal CanadiensNHL30110
2022–23Chicago WolvesAHL6510223246
2023–24Toronto MarliesAHL50110
2023–24Toronto Maple LeafsNHL3004419
2023–24Anaheim DucksNHL1000013
SHL totals4911213301101131
NHL totals1000111154

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2013SwedenU17601112
2013SwedenIH187th41122
2014SwedenU184th73036
2015SwedenWJC4th70118
2016SwedenWJC4th72134
Junior totals 31641032

Notes and References

  1. Web site: William Lagesson player profile . Elite Prospects . 28 January 2019 . 28 January 2019.
  2. The #Oilers have signed 2014 fourth-round draft pick, defenceman William Lagesson, to a three-year entry-level contract. . 850411614947823616 . EdmontonOilers . Edmonton Oilers . 7 April 2017 . 7 April 2017.
  3. The #Oilers have assigned defenceman William Lagesson to Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2017-18 season. . 861641879657390084 . EdmontonOilers . Edmonton Oilers . 8 May 2017 . 8 May 2017.
  4. Web site: Canes agree to terms with William Lagesson . . 25 July 2022 . 25 July 2022.
  5. 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. . 1042866208821788672 . EdmontonOilers . Edmonton Oilers . 20 September 2018 . 20 September 2018.
  6. Web site: William Lagesson ready for Vita Hasten . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926072408/https://www.vitahasten.se/artikel/hh50akfco-4a97d/william-lagesson-klar-for-vita-hasten . dead . 26 September 2020 . . 23 September 2020 . 23 September 2020 . Swedish.
  7. Web site: Brett Kulak traded to Edmonton Oilers . . 21 March 2022 . 21 March 2022.
  8. Web site: Maple Leafs sign four players . . 1 July 2023 . 1 July 2023.
  9. Web site: Maple Leafs goaltender Martin Jones, five others clear waivers . Sportsnet . 9 October 2023 . 26 October 2023.
  10. Web site: Maple Leafs Waive Martin Jones and Others to Clear Cap Space Ahead of NHL Regular Season Roster Submission Deadline . The Hockey News . Barden . Nick . 8 October 2023 . 26 October 2023.
  11. Web site: Maple Leafs re-assign Fraser Minten to WHL, recall William Lagesson . Sportsnet . 27 October 2023 . 30 October 2023.
  12. Web site: Maple Leafs to Wear Justin Bieber-Designed Flipside Jerseys Against Predators, Lineups and Where to Watch . Alter . David . The Hockey News . 28 October 2023 . 19 December 2023.
  13. Web site: Josi scores in OT to give Predators 3-2 win over Maple Leafs . ESPN . Associated Press . 28 October 2023 . 19 December 2023.
  14. Web site: Ducks claim defenseman Lagesson on waivers from Toronto . . NHL.com . 9 March 2024 . 9 March 2024 .
  15. Web site: Recap: Leason Scores Twice in 7-2 Loss to Chicago . Anaheim Ducks . NHL.com . Weller . Matt . 12 March 2024 . 9 April 2024.
  16. Web site: Red Wings sign defenseman William Lagesson to one-year contract . Detroit Red Wings . NHL.com . Thomas . Roth . 1 July 2024 . 1 July 2024.