William Lagesson

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.

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.

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). 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. 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. 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. He registered three goals and 12 points in 14 games with Vita Hästen.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. After an injury to Jake McCabe, the Maple Leafs recalled Lagesson on 27 October. He made his Maple Leafs season debut on 28 October in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators. 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. Lagesson made his Ducks debut on 12 March 2024 in a 7–2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He completed the season with the Ducks going scoreless through ten games.

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

International play

Lagesson was selected for Sweden's junior team to play at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. However, the team lost the bronze medal game to Slovakia to finish fourth in the tournament. He returned for Sweden at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, playing on the top pair alongside Gustav Forsling, winning their group. 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.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lagesson, William
1996 births
Living people
Anaheim Ducks players
Bakersfield Condors players
Chicago Wolves players
Djurgårdens IF (men's hockey) players
Dubuque Fighting Saints players
Edmonton Oilers draft picks
Edmonton Oilers players
Grand Rapids Griffins players
HC Vita Hästen players
Ice hockey people from Gothenburg
Kristianstads IK players
Montreal Canadiens players
Swedish ice hockey defencemen
21st-century Swedish sportsmen
Toronto Maple Leafs players
Toronto Marlies players
UMass Minutemen ice hockey players