Wow, Erik Gustafsson was abysmal in 2024-25, and that might be putting it lightly. In 2022-23 and 2023-24, Gustafsson came into his own, with 73 points and 13 goals in 146 regular season games.
That led me to think Gustafsson would, if he lasted all 82 games, end up with a half-point per contest. Unfortunately, he didn't even notch one-third, let alone one-half.
How bad did it look for Gustafsson? Through 60 games, he finished with 18 points and two goals, averaging a meager 16:19 of total ice time per matchup.
He ended the year with an ugly minus-19 rating, So if he's not in the Red Wings long-term plans, and he probably isn't, you can't blame Steve Yzerman.
Erik Gustafsson's ugly finish sets up uncertainty in 2025-26
That said, he finished the year with a 51.8 Corsi For, which doesn't look bad until you factor in his 58.0 offensive zone starting percentage at even strength. As for his on-ice shooting percentage? He ended up with a low 7.1 percent, and his on-ice save percentage stumbled to 89.1 percent, both at even strength.
This season, with an influx of blueliners heading into the forefront, Gustafsson would be lucky to snag third-pairing minutes full-time. Plus, he could see late-season competition from Axel Sandin-Pellikka, should the rook make a jump to the big club, depending on how his stint in Grand Rapids goes. But that's the least of Gustafsson's issues.
Youngsters and vets alike will be chasing Gustafsson
Neither Travis Hamonic nor Jacob Bernard-Docker will bring fans to their feet, but if they quietly make more of an impact than what Gustafsson gave the Red Wings last season, they'll gain an edge. Especially the younger, potential-laden, and underrated Bernard-Docker.
Bernard-Docker could develop into something we'd seen from Gustafsson in recent years: Someone who plays mainly third-pairing minutes, but could show off two-way tendencies. If Bernard-Docker does that in camp, then he'll lock down one of the two spots on the bottom pairing.
At that point, Gustafsson's going up against the more serviceable seasoned veteran in Hamonic, which would relegate him to competing for a No. 7 spot with Justin Holl. If Gustafsson hopes to be the player every Red Wings fan out there expected him to be, he's got to go in and enjoy the most spectacular camp he's seen in years.
If not, then don't expect him to play in any more than 40 games this season, where he'll either downgrade to organizational depth or watch games from the press box.