Injury Update: Erik Gustafsson's Season Likely Over

On Thursday, Red Wings coach Todd McLellan warned that defenseman Erik Gustafsson—unable to skate in the day's practice—would be undergoing more testing to gauge his availability moving forward.  On Friday, Gustafsson again wasn't healthy enough for practice, and McLellan had more details on his prognosis.  

"Gus is going to be out long term," the coach proclaimed Friday.  "What does that mean? I don't know [exactly], but he won't play in the next—probably til the end of the regular season."

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In other words, should Detroit fail to qualify for the postseason, Gustafsson's season may be over.  As a reminder, the Red Wings signed Gustafsson to a two-year deal worth $2 million annually against the salary cap last summer, seemingly as a replacement for the outgoing Shayne Gostisbehere (who is enjoying a strong season in Carolina).   It hasn't been an easy go for Gustafsson as a Red Wing.  He's put up two goals and 16 assists in 60 games for the season.  At times, he's been a healthy scratch.  In the early part of the season, he struggled to adapt to playing on his off side and has since moved back over to the more familiar left.  He's also never locked down the top power play quarterback role he was seemingly brought in to play (that has been Moritz Seider instead).  Still, Gustafsson has been dependable if unspectacular on the second PP unit, and, not unlike a number of his teammates, Detroit's midseason coaching change has been good for his game.

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Without Gustafsson, the immediate 'next man up' in league parlance is William Lagesson, who played twice for the Red Wings earlier in the season and will likely fold back into the lineup against the Golden Knights in Vegas on Saturday.  After that game, Jeff Petry is also expected to be close to his return to action from injury, so he can also provide relief in Gustafsson's absence (though McLellan has noted that Petry won't be available against the Knights, so that relief won't be quite immediate.

The Red Wings also re-called Brogan Rafferty (along with Austin Watson) as an additional insurance option should they suffer another injury on their forthcoming road trip.  Watson will be an option for Detroit with Elmer Soderblom also still "day-to-day," but McLellan noted that Soderblom will travel west with the team and "we hope he'll play at some point" on the trip. 

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