The Red Wings have picked up some extra defensive depth while waiting to get a deal done with restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson.  Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that Detroit has claimed defenseman Andreas Englund off waivers from the Flames.

The 30-year-old signed a one-year, $900K one-way contract with Calgary this summer with the hopes of securing a spot at the back of their defense corps.  Instead, he was outplayed in camp and found himself on waivers and will now be looking to accomplish that same objective – making the back end of their blueline group – with another new team.

The 30-year-old spent the previous year and a half in Nashville.  After being claimed on waivers in February 2025, Englund spent the rest of the season with the Predators.  However, he ultimately cleared waivers last season, spending the majority of the campaign with AHL Milwaukee, where he had three goals and 10 assists along with 65 penalty minutes in 52 games.  The veteran also got into three games with the Preds, recording four hits in a little under nine minutes per game of ice time.

Despite frequently bouncing between the NHL and AHL in recent years, Englund has a fair bit of experience at the top level.  He has played in 200 career NHL contests over parts of eight seasons across five organizations, tallying two goals and 18 assists along with 181 blocks, 488 hits, and 190 penalty minutes in 12:33 per game of ice time.  Englund doesn’t profile as someone who should be playing regularly in Detroit’s lineup when everyone is available but for games where more toughness is needed, he could fit the bill.  He’ll be slated to return to unrestricted free agency next summer.