Overview
- The Red Wings announced Thursday that they signed 23-year-old defenseman William Wallinder to a two-year, two-way contract that runs through the 2027–28 season.
- The deal carries an NHL average annual value of $875,000 with $850,000 in year one and $900,000 in year two and specifies minor-league pay of $110,000 in year one with a $150,000 guarantee and a $750,000 AHL figure in year two.
- Wallinder has not played in an NHL regular-season game but posted career highs this past AHL season with 66 games, two goals, 18 assists, 20 points and a plus-21 rating while helping Grand Rapids finish atop the conference.
- Detroit’s left-side depth, including Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson, means Wallinder is projected to compete for a third-pairing or bottom-pair spot and would have to clear waivers if the club tries to send him to the AHL.
- The contract both rewards his recent development and shapes near-term choices for the team because the bigger second-year AHL salary could discourage other clubs from claiming him off waivers and makes training camp outcomes and roster cuts the key next steps.