Trying to Make Sense of the Walman Trade Per the reporting of Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Detroit Red Wings have signed veteran 32-year-old defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a two year contract, worth two million dollars per year. May 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson (56) controls the puck around Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) during the first period in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA3NTQ2NjM5MzM2ODc1Mjkz/usatsi_23425657.jpg] May 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson (56) controls the puck around Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) during the first period in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden Earlier this morning, it was announced that the Red Wings failed to come to terms on an extension with defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who'd signed with the team last July on a one-year deal. This left a void in the blue line when it comes to a proven power play quarterback, and Gustafsson's signing fills that hole in the lineup. Gustafsson—who, like Gostisbehere, has bounced around the league, making stops in Chicago, Montreal, Calgary, Philadelphia, Montreal, Washington, Toronto, and most recently with the Rangers—scored six goals and gave 25 assists last season in 76 games. Of course, the presence of Adam Fox meant that Gustafsson was never going to run the Rangers' first power play, but he helped ensure the team's lethal man advantage unit didn't crater when Fox missed 10 games early in the season. His career high in points—from the '22-23 season, split between the Capitals and Maple Leafs—is 42, 14 shy of the 56 Gostisbehere put up in Detroit a year ago. However, he comes at more a modest cost than the as of yet unsigned Gostisbehere projects to and should be a more-than-serviceable option on the PP until one of Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, or eventually Axel Sandin Pellikka is ready for those duties. ALSO FROM THN DETROIT Cam Talbot joins Detroit Red Wings for two years, $2.5 million [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/cam-talbot-joins-detroit-red-wings-for-two-years-2-5-million] Around the League: Former Red Wing Tyler Bertuzzi Signs with Chicago [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/around-the-league-former-red-wing-tyler-bertuzzi-signs-with-chicago] Perron Signs Two-Year Deal in Ottawa [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/breaking-perron-to-test-market-after-detroit-unable-to-complete-deal] Breaking: Red Wings Bring Back Kane on One-Year Deal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/breaking-red-wings-bring-back-kane-on-one-year-deal] Red Wings Give Qualifying Offers to Seider, Raymond, Veleno, Berggren, not McIsaac [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/red-wings-give-qualifying-offers-to-seider-raymond-veleno-berggren-not-mcisaac] Friedman: "Momentum Growing" on Patrick Kane Return to Detroit [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/friedman-momentum-growing-on-patrick-kane-return-to-detroit] Where the Red Wings’ Unrestricted Free Agents Stand Ahead of July 1 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/where-the-red-wings-unrestricted-free-agents-stand-ahead-of-july-1]
