At the start of free agency on July 1, former New York Rangers defenseman, Erik Gustafsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings.
He may not have been a marquee name in New York, but Gustafsson played a solid role for the Rangers that shouldn’t be overlooked.
He was the lone defensemen and quarterback of New York’s second power play, largely due to his speed and strong skating abilities.
On top of his offensive upside, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman believes that Gustafsson could benefit Detroit in other ways as well.
“On the back end, Erik Gustafsson will contribute to some of the offense lost with Shayne Gostisbehere and Jake Walman’s goals,” Yzerman said. “Hopefully we can keep a few more out of the net and maybe that nets out in a positive way.”
This past season, the 32-year-old recorded six goals, 25 assists and 31 points while averaging 17:23 minutes of ice time.
It’s unclear if Gustafsson and the Rangers discussed a possible contract to keep him in New York.
One thing that is clear though is that he is eager and excited to begin this next chapter of his career in Detroit.
“(Detroit is) obviously a great organization, so I was very happy they called my agent and that we could get a deal done,” Gustafsson said. “I’m very happy to be part of this team.”
