Former Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Joins The Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes announced that they had signed former Montreal Canadiens defenceman William Lagesson to a one-year deal on Monday.

William Lagesson was an unrestricted free agent this summer after being cut loose by the Montreal Canadiens prior to the opening of free agency. The 26-year-old defenceman was acquired in a trade deadline move that sent Brett Kulak to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Lagesson, a 2022 2nd round pick and a 2024 7th round pick. Lagesson was included in the deal to make the money work from a salary cap perspective, as the Oilers had very little room under the cap at the moment of the trade and needed to send a body the other way.

Lagesson suited up for three games in Montreal, recording one assist during that time. He was never really able to find his place with the Canadiens after the acquisition of Justin Barron, the promotion of Corey Schueneman and the signing of Jordan Harris. It quickly became evident that the writing was on the wall for the Swedish defenceman.

In Carolina, he will likely be used in a specific role as a bottom-pair or 7th defenceman on a team that boasts a rather impressive defensive core that lacks a certain level of physicality. When Lagesson is at his best, he has good mobility, can stand up for his teammates, provides a lot of physicality and is very mean along the boards; much-needed elements that the Hurricanes were able to add.

In 60 career NHL Games, Lagesson is still in pursuit of his first NHL goal, while recording seven assists during that time. The native of Gothenburg, Sweden was the Edmonton Oilers’ 4th round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and had spent the better part of four years with the Oilers organization before he was moved to Montreal.