BREAKING: Red Wings sign Another defenseman Anton to three-year, entry-level contract

The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman to a three-year, entry-level contract starting in the 2025-26 season. He will join the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Johansson, 20, has played the 2024-25 season with Leksands IF in the Swedish Hockey League, recording 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) and 50 penalty minutes in 46 games. The 6-foot-4, 196-pound defenseman also spent the 2023-24 season with Leksands IF, where he registered eight points (3 goals, 5 assists), a plus-three rating, and 16 penalty minutes in 46 regular-season games, along with four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in seven playoff games. He also appeared in one game with Leksands IF’s under-20 team that season. Selected by Detroit in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, Johansson has totaled 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists) and 68 penalty minutes in 117 SHL games with Leksands IF since 2021-22.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Johansson is the cousin of San Jose Sharks forward Alexander Wennberg, who has recorded 365 points (99 goals, 266 assists) and 165 penalty minutes in 773 NHL games with Columbus, Florida, Seattle, New York Rangers, and San Jose since 2014-15. He is also the son of former European pro Thomas Johansson, who won a bronze medal with Sweden at the 2002 IIHF World Championship alongside ex-Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg.

Johansson has developed with Leksands IF since 2020-21, posting 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) and 106 penalty minutes in 55 games at the under-20 level, as well as 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) and 66 penalty minutes in 40 under-18 games. Internationally, he won a silver medal with Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, playing alongside fellow Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka while recording a plus-one rating and 14 penalty minutes in seven games.