Red Wings Counting on Gustafsson Filling Gostibehere Void

Patrick Kane knows Erik Gustafsson better than anyone on the Detroit Red Wings roster. He was quick to point out just how efficient an offensive-zone performer the Swedish defenseman can be when he’s on top of his game.

“He’s a really, really good hockey player, great offensively, makes a lot of good passes, a lot of good plays,” Kane said.

The two played together with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2015-20. During the 2018-19 season, Gustafsson would account for 17 goals and 60 points. Of that number, four goals and 18 points came on the power play.

🚨Goal by Vincent Trocheck assisted by Erik Gustafsson#Capitals 1 #NYR 1 1st pic.twitter.com/5ohoCKo9q8

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) April 23, 2024

“He was a key component to our power play,” Kane said. “He was so deceptive up top, really knows how to run the top, maybe as good as anyone I played with, to be honest with you.”

Of course, it must be noted that Gustafsson has never come close to matching that 60-point output in the rest of his NHL career. He put up 42 points in 2022-23, a season split between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs. Last season, with the New York Rangers, Gustafsson’s six-goal, 31-point output was his third-best as an NHLer.

Then again, it’s also worth noting that the 50 points accounted for last season by Red Wings defenseman Shayne Gostisbere was his most productive campaign since a 65-point season with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2017-18.

No one was anticipating Gostisbehere to be that effective with the Red Wings. So maybe it’s not out of the question for Gustafsson to also up his numbers playing a more opportunistic role in Detroit.

Red Wings Think Gustafsson Can Replace Gostisbehere

That’s what the club is envisioning. They foresee that like Gostisbehere, Gustafsson will be filling a third-pairing role and be quarterbacking one of their power-play units.

“Erik Gustafsson will replace the Ghost as that offensive, probably on the power play guy,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman said. “We expect him to be on one of the power play units.”

Erik Gustafsson, signed 2x$2M by DET, is a two-way puck-moving defenceman who's especially useful in the offensive zone. Has come into his own in the past two seasons as a very strong option to win minutes with a third pairing. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/h6UxNOTRP1

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2024

Knowing he’ll be filling that role and that more will be expected of him is a factor that Gustafsson finds to be exciting.

“I have been playing power play ever since I came over here,” Gustafsson said. “It’s something I like to do and something my game is meant to do.

“I like to run it and try to give the puck to the forwards to shoot, create lanes and stuff like that. I feel very confident playing on the power play. While I don’t know what’s going to happen, hopefully I can get an opportunity.”

Can Gustafsson actually fill the void left by Gostisbehere? Kane is giving him at least a Ghost of a chance.

“I think having that familiarity with Gus, and obviously that was when we had a good power play there,” Kane said. “(Alex) DeBrincat was on the other side as well. So, maybe that’s something we look at.”