The 2025-26 season may very well be the last for defenseman Erik Gustafsson in North America. According to a report out of Sweden, Gustafsson has been discussing a new contract with the SHL’s Djurgårdens IF for the 2026-27 campaign.
It’s been some time since Gustafsson last played in his native Sweden. His final appearance for Djurgårdens IF was during the 2012-13 season with their HockeyAllsvenskan team, where he scored seven goals and recorded 23 points in 49 games, achieving a +12 rating. Since then, it’s been all NHL for the Nynäshamn, Sweden native.
Should he sign in the SHL next season, few would be surprised by it. Gustafsson has been stashed in the AHL for most of the season by the Detroit Red Wings. He has been a top-pairing option for the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins, scoring two goals and 20 points in 21 games with a +19 rating.
Additional evening notes:
- The New Jersey Devils will be without at least one bottom-six forward for the rest of the year. After being placed on the team’s injured reserve in mid-November, the Devils announced that Zack MacEwen would miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign after undergoing ACL surgery. He’ll finish the season, his first in New Jersey, going scoreless in three games, averaging 6:20 of ice time per game.
- According to team reporter Connor Hrabchak, the Winnipeg Jets may be without a pair of options tomorrow against New Jersey. Apparently, forward Morgan Barron and Neal Pionk are considered day-to-day with upper-body and lower-body injuries, respectively. Winnipeg ended an 11-game skid against the Kings last night, winning by a score of 5-1.