Detroit Red Wings draft defenceman William Wallinder 32nd overall
By Zach Laing
3 years agoThe Detroit Red Wings have opened the second round of the NHL draft by selecting defenceman William Wallinder 32nd overall.
Wallinder, a native of Sollefteå, Sweden, stands at 6’4″ tall and 192 lbs. and split time last year between the J20 SuperElit league and HockeyAllsvenskan playing for MODO Hockey.
In the J20 league, Wallinder scored five goals and 24 points in 37 games while in the HockeyAllsvenskan, he scored two assists in 18 games.
It’s the second time that the Red Wings have dipped into Sweden in this draft after taking Lucas Raymond fourth overall Tuesday night.
Here’s what the scouts have to say about Wallinder:
Wallinder towers over the competition, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 194 pounds — there’s plenty of room for him to fill out that frame. He might be the most technically skilled skater among all defenceman in this draft. He’s a great puck-carrier, eager to lead his team up the ice, and with a great deal of initiative in creative offensive chances. – EliteProspects“Wallinder still has some work to do to round out his game with the puck. He can look off-balance through his shot, which speaks to some technique that needs cleaning up because he’s not getting the most out of his big frame.” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic“Excellent mobility for his size (6-foot-4). Shows poise and patience in his decision making.” – Sam Cosentino
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