William Lagesson

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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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 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 — — — — — 2024–25 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 23 3 6 9 18 — — — — — 2024–25 Detroit Red Wings NHL 7 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 2025–26 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 61 3 18 21 36 8 0 1 1 20 SHL totals 49 1 12 13 30 11 0 1 1 31 NHL totals 107 0 12 12 58 — — — — —

International 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