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Erik Gustafsson

Position	Left Defense / Right Defense	Current Team	Detroit Red Wings
Shoots	Left	Current Contract	2 years
Height	6'0"	Expires	2025-26
Weight (lbs)	190	Expiry Age (Jun 30)	34
Age	33 (Mar 14, 1992)	Expiry Status	UFA
Drafted	2012, Round 4, Overall 93 (EDM)

Date	Team	Transaction
Oct 11, 2025	Detroit Red Wings	Assigned to AHL
Oct 6, 2025	Detroit Red Wings	Cleared Waivers
Oct 5, 2025	Detroit Red Wings	Placed on Waivers
Jul 1, 2024	Detroit Red Wings	Signed 2 years @ $2.000M AAV starting in 2024-25
Jul 1, 2023	New York Rangers	Signed 1 year @ $825K AAV starting in 2023-24
Jul 13, 2022	Washington Capitals	Signed 1 year @ $800K AAV starting in 2022-23
Oct 12, 2021	Chicago Blackhawks	Signed 1 year @ $800K AAV starting in 2021-22
Oct 12, 2020	Philadelphia Flyers	Signed 1 year @ $3.000M AAV starting in 2020-21
Mar 6, 2018	Chicago Blackhawks	Signed 2 years @ $1.200M AAV starting in 2018-19
Jul 14, 2017	Chicago Blackhawks	Signed 1 year @ $650K AAV starting in 2017-18
May 16, 2015	Chicago Blackhawks	Signed to an entry level contract.

Status History Coming Soon

2024-25 Player Card

URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/erik-gustafsson-8476979.png

2023-24 Player Card

URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/erik-gustafsson-8476979.png

About Player Cards

Player cards present an infographic of a players performance. In this case it shows the player performance over a 3 season span. Each square is separated into three separate sub-boxes with the two smaller boxes on top representing the past two seasons and the larger box on the bottom representing the current or most recent season. This allows the reader to guage how consistent a player has been, and if early in the season it can help identify whether a players performance may be impacted by small sample size and subject to regression or is consistent with recent past performance.

Notes and Definitions

The numbers represent percentiles so the higher the better.
Percentiles are determined by comparing Forwards to Forwards and Defensemen to Defensemen.
Bursts/mi are calculated from NHL Edge Data are are speed bursts above 20mpg per mile skated. The NHL doesn't adjust for ice time so the players that skate more will naturally have more bursts over 20, or at least more opportunity to have more. The NHL also does not provide ice time in the context of NHL Edge Statistics, however, it does provide distance skated. By adjusting for distance skated it will have a similar effect to adjusting for ice time but also adjust for situationional effect. For example, Players don't typically skate as much on the PK, mostly within the defensive zone, so don't get significant opportunity in that ice time to get speed bursts above 20mph. Adjusting with miles skates would account for this better than adjusting with ice time.
Sh%AE is Shooting Percentage above Expected (Sh% - xSh%) and is an indicator of how good a shooter is at converting chances into goals.
Relative statistics are On Ice - Off Ice statistics and can be an indicator of whether the player makes his teammates better or worse.
All data is 5v5 except Shooting Hardest and Average, Skating Top Speed and Bursts/mi which are all situations, ES Average which is even strength (NHL doesn't give a specific definition).

Data Sources

Salary data is from TheStanleyCap.com
Shooting and Skating (except Sh%AE) are from NHL Edge
Other statistics are from Puckalytics.com and derived from data from NHL.com

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5v5 Individual Stats

Season	Team(s)	GP	TOI	G/60	A/60	Pts/60	xG/60	GAE/60	Sh%	xSh%	Sh%AE	%SA Rush	%SA Reb.
2015-16	CHI	41	539:27	0.00	1.45	1.45	0.14	-0.14	0.00	2.51	-2.51	0.00	1.45
2017-18	CHI	35	551:17	0.44	0.65	1.09	0.19	0.25	8.00	3.48	4.52	0.00	2.82
2018-19	CHI	79	1418:42	0.34	1.06	1.40	0.21	0.13	6.84	4.17	2.66	0.61	0.61
2019-20	CGY	7	109:44	0.00	1.09	1.09	0.09	-0.09	0.00	4.14	-4.14	0.00	0.00
2019-20	CHI	59	976:51	0.25	0.68	0.92	0.22	0.02	6.25	5.72	0.53	3.06	2.04
2019-20	CGY, CHI	66	1086:35	0.22	0.72	0.94	0.21	0.01	5.88	5.63	0.26	2.86	1.90
2020-21	MTL	5	57:08	0.00	1.05	1.05	0.16	-0.16	0.00	2.46	-2.46	0.00	0.00
2020-21	PHI	24	338:02	0.18	0.71	0.89	0.12	0.06	5.88	3.87	2.02	3.33	3.33
2020-21	MTL, PHI	29	395:10	0.15	0.76	0.91	0.12	0.03	4.35	3.50	0.85	2.63	2.63
2021-22	CHI	59	790:59	0.15	0.68	0.83	0.15	0.00	3.57	3.55	0.02	0.00	1.22
2022-23	WSH	61	1019:54	0.41	0.82	1.24	0.28	0.14	7.37	4.94	2.43	1.36	2.72
2022-23	TOR	9	119:40	0.00	0.50	0.50	0.22	-0.22	0.00	6.40	-6.40	0.00	11.11
2022-23	TOR, WSH	70	1139:34	0.37	0.79	1.16	0.27	0.10	6.86	5.04	1.82	1.28	3.21
2023-24	NYR	76	1151:11	0.26	0.73	0.99	0.18	0.08	6.58	4.51	2.07	2.34	2.34
2024-25	DET	60	842:19	0.07	0.57	0.64	0.18	-0.11	1.92	4.97	-3.05	1.05	2.11

5v5 On Ice Stats

Season	Team(s)	GP	TOI	SAF/60	GF/60	xGF/60	SAA/60	GA/60	xGA/60	GF%	xGF%	xGF Rel	xGA Rel	xGF% Rel
2015-16	CHI	41	539:27	43.71	3.00	2.49	40.15	1.78	2.50	62.79	49.89	0.29	0.14	1.61
2017-18	CHI	35	551:17	48.98	3.16	2.96	40.60	2.72	2.44	53.70	54.82	0.55	-0.39	8.79
2018-19	CHI	79	1418:42	43.43	3.00	2.63	45.55	2.79	3.06	51.82	46.23	0.23	0.24	0.27
2019-20	CGY	7	109:44	35.54	2.19	2.04	48.66	2.19	2.71	50.00	43.01	-0.37	0.18	-5.91
2019-20	CHI	59	976:51	42.57	2.95	2.61	45.21	2.58	2.94	53.33	47.01	0.11	0.18	-0.56
2019-20	CGY, CHI	66	1086:35	41.86	2.87	2.55	45.56	2.54	2.92	53.06	46.66	0.06	0.19	-1.06
2020-21	MTL	5	57:08	40.96	2.10	2.28	21.00	1.05	0.97	66.67	70.26	0.17	-1.22	21.12
2020-21	PHI	24	338:02	33.72	2.84	1.90	35.50	2.66	2.25	51.61	45.75	-0.26	-0.24	-0.65
2020-21	MTL, PHI	29	395:10	34.77	2.73	1.96	33.40	2.43	2.07	52.94	48.60	-0.19	-0.37	1.70
2021-22	CHI	59	790:59	40.81	2.58	2.34	42.02	2.65	2.62	49.28	47.24	0.17	0.07	1.15
2022-23	WSH	61	1019:54	47.00	2.88	2.92	41.00	2.29	2.56	55.68	53.27	0.42	0.02	3.72
2022-23	TOR	9	119:40	43.62	1.50	3.10	44.62	1.00	2.91	60.00	51.57	0.28	0.53	-2.61
2022-23	TOR, WSH	70	1139:34	46.65	2.74	2.94	41.38	2.16	2.60	55.91	53.08	0.40	0.08	2.86
2023-24	NYR	76	1151:11	46.33	2.40	2.72	40.34	2.29	2.38	51.11	53.41	0.25	-0.20	4.50
2024-25	DET	60	842:19	39.96	1.78	2.20	38.96	2.78	2.17	39.06	50.24	0.04	-0.29	3.55

NHL Edge Stats

		Skating				Shooting					Zone Time
Season	GP	Top Speed	Bursts>20/mi	Avg. Speed	ES Avg. Speed	Top Speed	Avg. Speed	%Long Range	%Mid Range	%High Danger	ES DZ%	ES NZ%	ES OZ%
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Legend

Percentile 0-25

Percentile 25-50

Percentile 50-75

Percentile 75-100

Forwards are compared with forwards and Defensemen are are compared with Defensemen.

5v5 Defense Pairs

Season

Season	Teammate	Team	TOI	GF/60	GA/60	GF%	xGF/60	xGA/60	xGF%	xGF Rel	xGA Rel	xGF% Rel
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Glossary

Type	Statistic	Definition
Individual	G/60	Goals Against per 60 minutes.
Individual	A/60	Assists per 60 minutes.
Individual	Pts/60	Points per 60 minutes.
Individual	xG/60	Expected Goals per 60 minutes.
Individual	GAE/60	Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60).
Individual	Sh%	Shooting Percentage.
Individual	xSh%	Expected Shooting Percentage.
Individual	Sh%AE	Shooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%).
Individual	%SA Rush	Percentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush.
Individual	%SA Reb.	Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds.
On Ice	SAF/60	Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes.
On Ice	GF/60	Goals For per 60 minutes.
On Ice	xGF/60	Expected Goals For per 60 minutes.
On Ice	SAA/60	Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On Ice	GA/60	Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On Ice	xGA/60	Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On Ice	GF%	Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
On Ice	xGF%	Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against)
On Ice	xGF Rel	xGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice.
On Ice	xGA Rel	xGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better).
On Ice	xGF% Rel	xGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice.

Individual and On-Ice stats from Puckalytics.com (starting in 2015-16). NHL Edge Stats from edge.nhl.com (starting in 2021-22). Edge statistic definitions can be found at the Edge Stats Glossary.

News and Opinions

Red Wings’ Early Trade Chips & Targets in 2025-26 Season at The Hockey Writers (Thu Oct 30, 2025)
3 Red Wings players who shouldn't be with the organization in November at Octopus Thrower (Tue Oct 28, 2025)
Gustafsson Talks About Demotion By Red Wings at Detroit Hockey Now (Mon Oct 27, 2025)
The Daily: Why Red Wings May Not Trade Gustafsson; Rakell Had Surgery at Detroit Hockey Now (Mon Oct 27, 2025)
Griffins Will Appreciate Gustafsson & Holl While They Have Them at The Hockey Writers (Thu Oct 23, 2025)
NHL Insider Reports Red Wings Exploring Trades for Hamonic, Gustafsson at Yahoo Sports NHL (Wed Oct 15, 2025)
Holl, Gustafsson Clear Waivers; Red Wings Can Send Both to Griffins at Detroit Hockey Now (Mon Oct 6, 2025)
Red Wings Put Gustafsson, Holl on Waivers at Winging it in Mowtown (Sun Oct 5, 2025)
Ranking the Red Wings defensive rotation heading into camp at Octopus Thrower (Wed Sep 17, 2025)
What Red Wings fans should really expect from Erik Gustafsson this year at Octopus Thrower (Mon Sep 8, 2025)
Red Wings Defenseman in Camp With Swedish Club at Detroit Hockey Now (Wed Aug 6, 2025)
A little bit of speculation about Erik Gustafsson’s future plans at The Malik Report (Wed Aug 6, 2025)

Current Contract

Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2024-25	32	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	-	-	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	UFA
2025-26	33	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	-	-	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	UFA
Total				-	-	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	$4,000,000

Signed: July 1, 2024

Team: Detroit Red Wings

GM: Steve Yzerman

Exp. Status: UFA

Cap %: 2.27

Previous Contracts (show) (hide)

Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Clause	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2023-24	31		$825,000	$825,000	-	-	$825,000	$825,000	$825,000	UFA
Total					-	-	$825,000	$825,000	$825,000

Signed: July 1, 2023

Team: New York Rangers

GM: Chris Drury

Exp. Status: UFA

Cap %: 0.99

Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Clause	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2022-23	30		$800,000	$800,000	-	-	$800,000	$800,000	$800,000	UFA
Total					-	-	$800,000	$800,000	$800,000

Signed: July 13, 2022

Team: Washington Capitals

GM: Brian MacLellan

Exp. Status: UFA

Cap %: 0.97

Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Clause	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2021-22	29		$800,000	$800,000	-	-	$800,000	$800,000	$800,000	UFA
Total					-	-	$800,000	$800,000	$800,000

Signed: Oct 12, 2021

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

GM: Stan Bowman

Exp. Status: UFA

Cap %: 0.98

Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Clause	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2020-21	28		$3,000,000	$3,000,000	-	$250,000	$2,750,000	$3,000,000	$3,000,000	UFA
Total					-	$250,000	$2,750,000	$3,000,000	$3,000,000

Signed: Oct 12, 2020

Team: Philadelphia Flyers

GM: Chuck Fletcher

Exp. Status: UFA

Cap %: 3.68

Standard Contract (RFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2018-19	26	$1,200,000	$1,200,000	-	$200,000	$800,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	RFA-arb
2019-20	27	$1,200,000	$1,200,000	-	$400,000	$1,000,000	$1,400,000	$1,400,000	UFA
Total				-	$600,000	$1,800,000	$2,400,000	$2,400,000

Signed: Mar 6, 2018

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

GM: Stan Bowman

Exp. Status: UFA

Cap %: 1.51

Standard Contract (RFA) ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Clause	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2017-18	25		$650,000	$650,000	-	-	$650,000	$650,000	$200,000	RFA-arb
Total					-	-	$650,000	$650,000	$200,000

Signed: July 14, 2017

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

GM: Stan Bowman

Exp. Status: RFA-arb

Cap %: 0.87

Entry Level Contract ( ) (0 ratings)

Season	Age*	Cap Hit	AAV	Perf. Bonus	Sign. Bonus	Salary	Compensation	Minors Salary	Status
2015-16	23	$667,500	$925,000	$257,500	$92,500	$575,000	$667,500	$70,000	ELC
2016-17	24	$667,500	$925,000	$257,500	$92,500	$575,000	$667,500	$70,000	ELC
Total				$515,000	$185,000	$1,150,000	$1,335,000	$140,000

Signed: May 16, 2015

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

GM: Stan Bowman

Exp. Status: RFA-arb

Career Statistics

			Regular Season									Playoffs
Season	League	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	Shots	Sh%	TOI/G	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	Shots	Sh%	TOI/G
2007-08	U16 SM	Huddinge IK U16	3	0	0	0		6
2008-09	Swe-U18	Djurgarden U18	33	2	8	10		22				2
2009-10	Swe-Jr.	Djurgarden Jr.	24	0	8	8		26
2009-10	Swe-U18	Djurgarden U18	27	7	13	20		54				3
2010-11	Swe-Jr.	Djurgarden Jr.	38	2	21	23		104				4		1	1		6
2011-12	Sweden	Djurgarden	41	3	4	7		16
2011-12	Swe-Jr.	Djurgarden Jr.	21	3	11	14		14
2011-12	Sweden-Q	Djurgarden	10	0	1	1		6
2011-12	SHL	Djurgårdens IF										10		1	1	+1	6
2012-13	Sweden-2	Djurgarden	55	8	16	24		82
2012-13	HockeyAllsvenskan	Djurgårdens IF										6	1		1	-3	30
2013-14	Sweden	Frolunda	50	2	18	20		16
2013-14	WC-A	Sweden	8	0	1	1	-4	6	3
2013-14	ET	Frölunda HC										2					2
2014-15	Sweden	Frolunda	55	4	25	29		22				12	1	2	3		31
2015-16	AHL	Rockford	27	3	8	11	+1	38	66	450.0
2015-16	WC-A	Sweden	8	0	2	2	-1		16	0.0
2015-16	NHL	Chicago Blackhawks	41	0	14	14	+11	4	58	0.0	15:27	5		1	1	-1		5	0.0	11:21
2016-17	AHL	Rockford IceHogs	68	5	25	30	-27	40
2017-18	NHL	Chicago Blackhawks	35	5	11	16	+1	6	71	7.0	18:33
2017-18	AHL	Rockford IceHogs	25	3	14	17	-3	18
2017-18	WC	Sweden	6	0	1	1	+3	2
2018-19	NHL	Chicago Blackhawks	79	17	43	60	-6	34	160	10.6	22:35
2018-19	WC	Sweden	8	2	2	4	+5	2
2018-19	EHT	Sweden	3	0	1	1	-2
2019-20	NHL	Chicago Blackhawks	59	6	20	26	-8	25	98	6.1	20:40
2019-20	NHL	Calgary Flames	7	0	3	3	-1	2	5	0.0	18:01	10		4	4	+1	2	22	0.0	17:06
2020-21	NHL	Philadelphia Flyers	24	1	9	10	-2		25	4.0	17:24
2020-21	NHL	Montréal Canadiens	5	0	2	2	+1		8	0.0	13:23	16	1	2	3	+3		8	12.5	10:00
2021-22	NHL	Chicago Blackhawks	59	3	15	18	-4	14	79	3.8	16:13
2021-22	WC	Sweden	8	0	7	7	+3	4
2022-23	NHL	Washington Capitals	61	7	31	38	+9	21	114	6.1	20:22
2022-23	NHL	Toronto Maple Leafs	9	0	4	4		2	8	0.0	15:45	2	1		1			3	33.3	10:03
2023-24	NHL	New York Rangers	76	6	25	31	+3	35	93	6.5	17:24	16		3	3	-3	8	13	0.0	18:09
2024-25	NHL	Detroit Red Wings	60	2	16	18	-19	20	67	3.0	16:19
2024-25	WC	Sweden	10	0	7	7	+3	4
2025-26	AHL	Grand Rapids Griffins	8	0	8	8	+5
NHL Career			515	47	193	240	-15	163	786	6.0	18:31	49	2	10	12		10	51	3.9	14:15