The Detroit Red Wings have secured William Wallinder on a two-year, two-way contract extension, keeping one of their most familiar defensive prospects in the organization.
The move comes after Wallinder spent the entire 2025-26 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he delivered a steady two-way presence and finished with 20 points, a plus-21 rating, and 23 penalty minutes in 66 regular-season games.
Strong AHL Resume
Wallinder also contributed in the Calder Cup Playoffs, adding one goal and two penalty minutes in eight games. In the season before that, he posted 19 points in 62 regular-season games for Grand Rapids and appeared in three postseason contests.
Since joining the Griffins in 2022-23, the 23-year-old defenseman has accumulated 54 points in 194 AHL games, along with a plus-11 rating and 43 penalty minutes. The Red Wings selected him in the second round, 32nd overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Built From Sweden To Grand Rapids
A native of Sollefteå, Sweden, Wallinder arrived in North America after two seasons with Rögle BK in the Swedish Hockey League. He produced 45 points in 97 games there from 2021-23 and was part of Rögle BK’s Champions Hockey League title run in 2022.
His professional path began earlier with MODO Hockey in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan, where he recorded eight points in 61 games from 2019-21. He also spent time developing in MODO’s under-20 and under-18 teams before earning international honors.
Wallinder helped Sweden win bronze at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, finishing with three assists and a plus-three rating in seven games. He also earned bronze at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he posted a plus-one rating in five appearances.
For Detroit, the extension keeps a 6-foot-4, 208-pound defenseman in place after two straight seasons of consistent AHL production. For Wallinder, it extends a development path that has already included playoff experience, international medals, and a growing role in Grand Rapids.
