A former Edmonton Oilers defenceman is under fire after putting another player in a chokehold during a heated AHL game earlier this week.
William Lagesson, who played in 57 games with the Oilers between 2019 and 2022, signed a deal with the Detroit Red Wings over the summer and now plays with the AHL’s Grand Rapid Griffins.
On Sunday, during a game against the Iowa Wild, Lagesson took things a bit too far as he got into a tussle with Wild forward Adam Raska. Instead of dropping the gloves, the two fell to the ice where Lagesson got the Czech forward into a chokehold. The hold went on for longer than you would expect as officials kinda just stood around until Raska started to tap out.
William Lagesson just made Raska tap out as he had him in a choke hold. Unreal #GoGRG #LGRW pic.twitter.com/jIeK1la4c8
— Griffins Nest (@GrGriffinsNest) November 24, 2024
Lagesson was given a two-minute roughing penalty on the play, and it doesn’t appear he will be facing any supplemental discipline for the chokehold. The AHL has not requested a hearing with him nearly two days after the incident.
Former NHL goaltender Andrew Raycroft weighed in on the play, making it very clear that he was not a fan.
This should be a 25 game suspension https://t.co/DifOyBgOcA
— Andrew Raycroft (@AndrewRaycroft) November 25, 2024
Hockey fans tended to agree with Raycroft, with many believing a lengthy suspension should have been the appropriate punishment for such a play. Many also called out the refs for not intervening sooner.
Attempted murder
— Primetime (@primetimesc2) November 26, 2024
How is that not a 20 game suspension at least? Just completely unacceptable and not hockey at all
— Hockey Seanie (@HockeySeanie) November 25, 2024
Would have been nice for the refs to jump in. Should be suspended, what a ridiculous precedent to set.
— jim yessir (@brendandimitri) November 25, 2024
That’s… not how you fight in hockey. The fuck
— Brendan 🐙 Sanders (aka Ketsal) (@Ketsal_Eynon) November 24, 2024
That ain’t a hockey fight that’s a bitch move
— aaron (@AJS89) November 24, 2024
Hope he enjoys the suspension. No idea why the ref is just standing there. Linesman typically break things up while refs assess penalties, but this is where the ref should have stepped in. Especially with a dirty play like this.
— Eric Hanson (@HansFarms) November 26, 2024
Lagesson needs to be suspended for a long while and this ref needs to be fired immediately. There’s no place for choke holds in a hockey fight … ridiculous
— Jim Rasmussen (@JimRasmussen4) November 26, 2024
Brutal . Huge suspension to send messages
— Matt Dungey (@MattDungey) November 26, 2024
Lagesson should be out for the remainder of the season.
— Troy Sitko (@TroySitko) November 26, 2024
Absolute garbage.
40 game suspension
— mark Hildahl (@markhildahl19) November 26, 2024
It did not appear that Raska was injured on the play, which may or may not have had an impact on Lagesson not being suspended for the incident. Even so, it’s a bit shocking that Lagesson escaped the play without more than a minor penalty.