The Red Wings have a pair of Swedish defensive prospects with the last name Johansson: there’s Albert Johansson, 23, who will make his Red Wings debut this fall, and Anton Johansson, 20, who’s playing for Leksands IF of the SHL.
The Red Wings’ Johanssons are unrelated, but Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses big Anton, who’s 6’4″ and 196 pounds:
Playing his first full SHL campaign in 2023-24, the 20-year-old Johansson was good for 3-5-8 totals during 46 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he would ramp up his production, collecting two goals and two assists in seven games.
“I did a good job in the playoffs,” Johansson said. However, it wasn’t his offensive output that he was most proud about during his first pro season.
“I think the defensive part,” was his answer about which aspect of his game was showing the most progression. “I’m gonna still work on that and try to keep up my offense.”
Of note to Red Wings fans, the 6-foot-4, 172-pound Johansson was also displaying an edge to his game while playing for Sweden at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Against Canada, he was dishing out a devastating hit on Easton Cowan.
Continued; it is entirely possible that the Red Wings have two A. Johansson’s on the roster at some point over the next four years. Anton is a shut-down defenseman with a physical edge, and Albert is a freewheeling defenseman who makes great plays.
