The Red Wings have recalled another player from the Grand Rapids Griffins, following the call up of Sheldon Dries earlier this week after Nate Danielson was sent down. Erik Gustafsson is back in a Detroit uniform after having spent the majority of the season with their AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.
In 60 games with the Red Wings last year, Gustafsson had two goals and 16 assists for 18 points on the season. Gustafsson last played for the Red Wings in their Nov. 26 matchup with the Nashville Predators earlier this year, but has been staying in the city area and making the commute to Grand Rapids for games and practices while with the Griffins.
The veteran Swedish defenseman started his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, though he was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers while still playing junior hockey in Sweden. The Blackhwaks signed Gustafsson in 2015, and he spent the next three seasons splitting time between the main club and their AHL affiliate, the Rockford Ice Hogs.
After signing a two year contract with the Blackhawks in 2018, Gustafsson appeared in 50+ games in consecutive seasons for the first time. In Chicago, Gustafsson was known for his ability to quarterback the power play unit which at the time included former Blackhawks and current Red Wings teammates Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane.
Chicago traded the blueliner in 2020, starting his winding path around the NHL which included pit stops with the Flyers, Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers before he landed in Detroit in 2024. Gustafsson was brought in by the Red Wings to fill the role Shayne Gostisbehere had on the team the previous season.
Red Wings need to see more from Gustafsson this season
Unfortunately, Gustafsson's fit with the Red Wings last year did not seem to be a comfortable one. Gustafsson rotated out of the lineup with now fellow Griffins top blueliner Justin Holl for some games, and did not find much success at even strength, much less the power play. Gustafsson had -19 rating for the Red Wings by the end of the season, and only one power play goal.
The move to recall Gustafsson comes in the wake of the Red Wings loss to the Boston Bruins, where a beleagured and tired Detroit team fell 3-0 to Jeremy Swayman at TD Gardens as the goaltender got his first shutout of the season.
Rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who fits a similar profile as Gustafsson as a slightly undersized defenseman, who's electric with the puck and a heady skater but in need of some work defensively, played very little in the third period of Detroit's game at Boston. Sandin-Pellikka also had a season low 9:30 time on ice in the Red Wings home game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sergei Fedorov's jersey retirement night.
Gustafsson likely won't be taking the young rookie Swede's spot in the lineup, but as the NHL heads towards the Olympic break and trade deadline, it might be a good time to see what the veteran Swede still has left in the tank.