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#22 William Wallinder
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Pos: D
D.O.B.: 7/28/02
From: Solleftea, SWE
Height: 6'5
Weight: 210
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2020 draft 2nd rnd, 32nd overall by Detroit
Acquired: Signed ATO contract with Grand Rapids (AHL) 3/30/23 |
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| Plus: Effortless & Graceful Mobility: Wallinder's primary calling card is his elite, fluid skating mechanics. For a 6-foot-4 defenseman, his linear stride is remarkably effortless, allowing him to match rush gaps cleanly, transition laterally, and carry the puck out of trouble... Mistake-Free Defensive Mapping: Over his development cycle, Wallinder has successfully transformed his game to play a safe, highly predictable, and quiet brand of defense-first hockey. He leverages his long reach and active stick-work to choke out cycles and isolate attackers from the puck... Rush Activation Potential: While playing more conservatively in the pros, he features the underlying tools to act as a puck-rushing defenseman, utilizing functional depth vision to cleanly join transitions as a trailer...
| | Minus: Capped NHL Offensive Ceiling: While he can occasionally chip in offensively, his dynamic playmaking traits have receded relative to his junior accolades. He projects primarily as a supplementary, low-risk passer rather than a dynamic power-play quarterback at the NHL level... In-Zone Physical Authority: Despite his towering 6-foot-4 frame, Wallinder is not a naturally punishing or overly physical shutdown defenseman. He heavily prefers positional angling and stick checks over raw, bone-crushing hits to separate bodies... |
| Organizational Comments: Red Wings Asst Dir Player Dev - Dan Cleary "And, you know, obviously a great skater, you know, underrated. I think defensively, he has a good stick, and those types of things are going to be huge for him to take the next step to go to the NHL... definitely a guy that I think is steadily, steadily progressing to the point where he's going to be knocking on the door." |
What GRC says: Fall 2026 Wallinder has reached a crucial checkpoint. Crucially, he is no longer waiver-exempt heading into the current season, meaning the Red Wings face the distinct risk of losing his premium 6-foot-4 frame to another team if they attempt to route him back to the minors. Because Detroit has a crowded left-hand side at the NHL level, Wallinder will battle intensely during training camp to secure a bottom-pairing utility role. If he clears waivers, he will resume playing top-pairing shutdown minutes alongside Shai Buium for the Grand Rapids Griffins, waiting as a premier recall option.
2025-26 The smooth skating Swedish defender had a respectable first half, but his game truly began to shine in the second half - especially once paired with Anton Johansson. That pairing became a formidable shutdown duo, and Wallinder showed noticeable improvement in his reads, gap control, and overall defensive reliability. Wallinder's skating remains his defining trait - long, effortless strides that allow him to close quickly, retrieve pucks efficiently, and transition play with poise. His passing is crisp and clean, often leaving you wanting more offensively, but that's not the core of his game. Instead, he leaned into using his size, reach, and mobility to smother opposing forwards and control the defensive zone. Down the stretch, Wallinder played some of his best hockey of the season. His improved defensive detail, combined with his natural tools, made him a difficult matchup. If he continues to play with that level of assertiveness and structure, his game could translate effectively to the next level. A Restricted Free Agent this summer, Wallinder is likely to be qualified. However, he would need to clear waivers to return to Grand Rapids - a risky proposition given his upside. That dynamic may signal a potential spot in Detroit to start the season, depending on how the organization structures its blue line.
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| Role: defensive defenseman |
| Projection: NHL middle pairing |
| Transactions |
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| 3/27/23 | Signed 3-yr contract with Detroit (NHL) |
| 3/30/23 | Signed to ATO by Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 10/6/23 | Assigned by Detroit (NHL) |
| 9/14/24 | Invited to Detroit (NHL) Training Camp |
| 10/6/24 | Assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 12/23/24 | Recalled by Detroit (NHL) |
| 12/24/24 | Assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 9/18/25 | Invited to Training Camp |
| 10/3/25 | Assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 6/25/26 | Signed 2 yr contract extension with Detroit (NHL) |
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