The Detroit Red Wings are keeping another piece of their organizational goaltending depth in place.
Detroit announced Tuesday that it has signed Carter Gylander to a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old goaltender spent last season between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toledo Walleye.
Carter Gylander Earns Another Opportunity
Gylander appeared in eight games for Grand Rapids during the 2025-26 season, posting a 1.62 goals-against average, a .942 save percentage and one shutout.
He also continued to see action with Toledo, where he played 34 games and recorded a 2.78 goals-against average with a .901 save percentage.
Those numbers in Grand Rapids were posted over a small sample, but they gave Detroit enough reason to continue developing the 6-foot-5 netminder.
Gylander was selected by the Red Wings in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft, No. 191 overall. The Edmonton native played four seasons at Colgate University before beginning his professional career in the Detroit organization.
What the Signing Means for Detroit
The two-way contract gives the Red Wings flexibility.
Gylander can compete for playing time in Grand Rapids while remaining available as organizational depth if injuries create movement elsewhere on the goalie depth chart. His size and encouraging AHL production make him an intriguing player to keep around, even if Detroit is not counting on him for an NHL role right away.
Goaltenders often take longer to develop than skaters. For Gylander, the next challenge is turning a strong eight-game showing with the Griffins into sustained success over a larger workload.
Bottom Line
The Carter Gylander signing will not grab the same attention as an NHL roster move, but maintaining reliable goaltending depth matters across a long season.
Gylander earned another look with his performance in Grand Rapids. Now he will have a chance to prove he belongs there full time.
