Gustafsson went an 11th straight game without a point in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Lightning.
Gustafsson is minus-7 in that span while seeing time on the third pairing and second power-play unit. The Red Wings' offense has leaned more heavily on the team's top players under head coach Todd McLellan, leaving little chance for Gustafsson to get involved on offense. The veteran blueliner has 13 points, a minus-16 rating, 53 shots on net, 34 blocked shots and 20 PIM through 47 outings this season.
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Red Wings' Erik Gustafsson: Two points in victory
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Gustafsson potted a power-play goal and added a helper Sunday in a 6-2 win over Seattle.
Gustafsson registered the primary assist on Patrick Kane's first-period goal, and the defenseman netted his first power-play marker of the season early in the middle frame. This was Gustafsson's first multi-point effort in 2024-25. He has two goals through five games in January after failing to find the back of the net through the first three months of the season. The left-shot blueliner appears to have cemented his place in the lineup after being a periodic healthy scratch up until Dec. 5. He's chipped in two goals and 11 points through 34 appearances.
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Red Wings' Erik Gustafsson: Pockets helper Friday
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Gustafsson logged an assist, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 5-3 win over the Blackhawks.
Gustafsson set up Andrew Copp's third-period tally. The helper was Gustafsson's fourth point over his last six games, though he had been held off the scoresheet in the previous two contests. The 32-year-old has been scratched just once since the start of December, and it hasn't happened since Todd McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde as head coach. Gustafsson is at nine points, 40 shots on net, 23 blocked shots and a minus-9 rating over 33 appearances in a bottom-four role.
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Red Wings' Erik Gustafsson: Tallies in Thursday's win
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Gustafsson scored a goal in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jackets.
Gustafsson has a goal and two assists during his three-game point streak, which follows a seven-game slump. The 32-year-old defenseman hasn't been scratched since Dec. 5, and he's holding down a spot on the third pairing and second power-play unit. The Swedish blueliner has eight points, 37 shots on net, 21 blocked shots, 14 PIM and a minus-11 rating through 30 appearances.
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Red Wings' Erik Gustafsson: Hands out power-play assist
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Gustafsson produced a power-play assist and three shots on goal in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Capitals.
Gustafsson set up Patrick Kane's tally in the first period. The helper ended a seven-game slump for Gustafsson, who has struggled to do much on offense this season. The 32-year-old defenseman has six helpers, 36 shots on net, 21 blocked shots, 14 PIM and a minus-12 rating over 28 appearances. He's not a lock to be in the lineup, but he regularly sees time on the second power-play unit when he plays, which is where he's earned four of his six assists this season.
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Red Wings' Erik Gustafsson: Ends slump with power-play helper
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Gustafsson recorded a power-play assist and two PIM in Monday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Sharks.
Gustafsson put an 11-game slump to rest when he set up Marco Kasper's first-period tally. Gustafsson has played in a majority of games, though he was scratched twice during his dry spell and is far from a lock to play every contest. He has just three helpers with 22 shots on net, 12 blocked shots, 10 PIM and a minus-5 rating over 14 outings. Gustafsson's main value is in power-play production -- he's earned all of his assists with the man advantage -- but he's been limited to the second unit for the better part of the last month, which reduces his opportunities to make an impact.
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Red Wings' Erik Gustafsson: Notches power-play assist
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Gustafsson registered a power-play assist, two shots on goal, two blocked shots and four PIM in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Rangers.
Gustafsson has an assist in each of his two games this season, both coming on the power play. He's added five shots on net, three blocked shots and a minus-2 rating. Gustafsson has done the job he was signed for, but he may end up slipping out of the lineup once again, as Jeff Petry (upper body) was cleared to play Saturday versus the Predators after a three-game absence.
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Red Wings' Erik Gustafsson: Grabs power-play helper
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Gustafsson posted a power-play assist, three shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Penguins.
Gustafsson had to fill a larger role than expected in his Detroit debut, as Jeff Petry (upper body) left the game early. Gustafsson was signed by the Red Wings as a direct replacement for Shayne Gostisbehere -- a third-pairing option who can also run a power play. The 32-year-old Gustafsson had 31 points (nine on the power play) over 76 regular-season outings with the Rangers last season. If Petry misses time, Gustafsson may be pressed into a top-four role, though his defensive struggles could largely offset the extra opportunities he'd receive with more ice time.
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Red Wings' Erik Gustafsson: Signs two-year deal
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Gustafsson signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Red Wings on Monday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet on Monday.
Gustafsson had six goals and 31 points in 76 regular-season games with the Rangers in 2023-24. The 32-year-old is likely to serve on either Detroit's second or third pairing, and he should also see some time on the second power-play unit.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Provides helper in win
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Gustafsson notched an assist, four shots on goal and two blocked shots in Monday's 4-0 win over the Senators.
This was Gustafsson's first point in his last seven appearances. The 32-year-old defenseman ends the regular season with 31 points, 93 shots on net, 66 blocked shots, 63 hits and a plus-3 rating over 76 appearances. He'll likely remain in a bottom-four role as a power-play specialist to begin the playoffs.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Remains unavailable
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Gustafsson (upper body) is not expected to be an option for Monday's matchup against Pittsburgh, per Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today.
Gustafsson is poised to miss his fourth consecutive contest. He wore a non-contact jersey during Monday's morning skate, which suggests he is making progress. He has earned six goals, 30 points, 83 shots on net, 62 blocked shots and 59 hits in 70 games this season.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Won't play Saturday
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Gustafsson (upper body) didn't travel with the team for its road clash with Arizona on Saturday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
Gustafsson will be out of action for his third consecutive game due to his upper-body problem. In 70 games this season, the 32-year-old blueliner has notched six goals and 24 assists, including nine power-play points. Without Gustafsson in the lineup, K'Andre Miller could see more time with the man advantage.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Remains out Thursday
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Gustafsson (upper body) won't be available Thursday versus Colorado, per Jim Cerny of Forever Blueshirts.
Gustafsson is set to miss his second consecutive contest. He has six goals and 30 points in 70 appearances this season. When Gustafsson is ready to return, he might serve in a bottom-four capacity.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Won't play against Flyers
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Gustafsson (upper body) will not be an option versus Philadelphia on Tuesday, per NHL.com.
Gustafsson will be out of the lineup for just the second time this season. In his 70 appearances this year, the 32-year-old blueliner has managed six goals and 24 assists, including nine power-play points. Without Gustafsson in the lineup, Brandon Scanlin is expected to make his NHL debut.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Dealing with upper-body injury
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Gustafsson (upper body) is considered day-to-day ahead of Tuesday's matchup against Philadelphia.
It's unclear at this time if Gustafsson will be available to play versus the Flyers after he didn't practice Monday. The 32-year-old blueliner has six goals, 30 points, 83 shots on net and 62 blocked shots over 70 appearances this season. If Gustafsson can't play Tuesday, Brandon Scanlin may get a chance to make his NHL debut.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Powers up with assist
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Gustafsson recorded a power-play assist in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Blues.
The well-traveled Gustafsson has been on eight different NHL teams, including the Oilers, who never actually utilized the Swedish defenseman after selecting him in the fourth round (No. 93 overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He's found a home in the Big Apple to the tune of five goals and 22 assists, nine of which have taken place on the power play. The Rangers rank fifth in power-play percentage, converting 83.3 percent of their chances, so take that into account when deciding between Gustafsson and others of that ilk.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Dishes helper in Thursday's win
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Gustafsson picked up an assist, a blocked shot, a hit, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Devils.
Gustafsson extended his point streak to three games with a third-period stretch pass from his own zone which helped spring Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck on a 2-on-1, resulting in Trocheck's 20th goal of the season. With five goals and 21 assists through 56 games, Gustafsson's on pace to finish just shy of last season's 42 points.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Good to go Sunday
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Gustafsson (lower body) will be in Sunday's lineup against the Ducks, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.
Gustafsson was unavailable Saturday against the Kings but will get back in the lineup after just one missed game. The veteran blueliner has four goals and 21 points through 44 games this season.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Out Saturday
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Gustafsson (lower body) won't play Saturday against the Kings, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reports.
Matthew Robertson was recalled from AHL Hartford on Friday, indicating the Rangers would need some defensive depth Saturday. It'll be the first game Gustafsson's missed this campaign. He has four goals and 21 points through 44 outings. Zac Jones will likely slot into Gustafsson's spot on the third pairing.
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Rangers' Erik Gustafsson: Notches three helpers in win
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Gustafsson logged three assists in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs.
Two of Gustafsson's three assists came on the power play in the Rangers' three-goal victory. The 31-year-old blueliner now has four helpers in his last two contests after going eight games without a point. Gustafsson's been relegated back to a bottom-pairing role since Adam Fox returned from injury, limiting his scoring production, though he's had a solid campaign overall with 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) through 30 outings in his first season with New York.