Andreas Englund claimed on waivers as Red Wings add blue-line depth

The Detroit Red Wings have turned to the waiver wire for blue-line help, claiming veteran defenceman Andreas Englund from the Calgary Flames on Saturday, according to Elliotte Friedman. The move brings an experienced depth option to Detroit just as teams narrow their rosters ahead of the regular season.

Veteran defenceman moves on quickly from Calgary

Englund, 30, only joined the Flames in the off-season, signing a one-year, two-way deal after spending the previous two years in the Nashville Predators’ organization. His time in Calgary’s lineup was brief: he appeared in one pre-season game, Thursday’s loss to the Seattle Kraken, where he logged roughly 17 and a half minutes of ice time, dropped the gloves in a fight and registered three shots on goal.

The left-shot blue-liner brings eight seasons of NHL experience to Detroit. In 2025-26, he dressed for just three games with Nashville. Overall, he has played more than 200 NHL games with the Predators, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators, producing two goals, 20 points and a minus-26 rating.

For the Red Wings, claiming Englund adds a seasoned option who can compete for a spot on the third pair or provide insurance as a depth defender. His two-way contract gives Detroit flexibility to move him between the NHL roster and the AHL affiliate as roster needs and injuries evolve over the course of the season.

Busy waiver wire yields only two claims

Englund was part of a large group of 61 players placed on waivers Friday as clubs trimmed their training camp rosters. Friedman noted that he was one of just two players to be claimed on Saturday. The other was defenceman William Trudeau, picked up by the Predators after he was waived by the New York Rangers.

For Calgary, losing Englund on waivers comes as the Flames bring their camp roster down toward opening-night size. Earlier on Saturday, the club reduced its group to 27 players by assigning prospects Jaden Basha and Hunter Brzustewicz to the AHL. With Englund now in Detroit and younger players sent down, the competition for the remaining spots on both the Red Wings’ and Flames’ blue lines tightens as the regular season approaches.