Detroit Red Wings prospect Anton Johansson has been having a season he likely didn’t envision when he decided to return to Sweden to play his last season in the SHL. His team, Leksands IF, is last in the league and is likely headed toward being relegated down from the top Swedish league and their general manager was fired on Friday, pointing to several changes in the organization. 

Johansson played in several games for the Grand Rapids Griffins last year after finishing his SHL regular season and signing an ELC with the Red Wings. However, he decided to cross the pond once more to play with Leksands, and his father, Thomas Johansson, who, at the time, was the team’s general manager. This year, the younger Johansson has played in 39 games, accruing 2 goals and 9 assists so far for 11 total points. The team is currently in 14th place in the SHL with a record of 11-25-5-1. 

Johansson, who shares a name with current Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson, (though no actual relation), is a big, bruising defenseman standing at 6’4 and nearly 200lbs. The Red Wings drafted him in the fourth round in 2022. He projects to be a third or potentially second line defenseman if he manages to make the NHL. 

The SHL regular season is only 52 games long and is going to conclude on March 14, leaving exactly a month before Johansson is free to come to America. The big Swedish defender will find himself in a crowded defensive room as the Griffins pursue the Calder Cup while having one of the best seasons in AHL history. He does fill a potential hole in the Red Wings pipeline as a big blueliner with the ability to shoot with his left hand, but its yet to be seen if he’ll be able to handle the North American game at a high enough level to be getting significant NHL minutes.