Another Erik Gustafsson to the rescue for Flyers
When it comes to trying to put an affordable yet viable defenseman on the ice, for the Flyers, once is not enough.
So here comes Erik Gustafsson. Again.
Only, this veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson isn’t the veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson who played for the Flyers for four years up until going to the KHL to play in 2014.
He’s been overseas ever since, and at 31 he’s now captain for Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League.
This Erik Gustafsson, 28, signed a one-year deal with the Flyers Monday worth $3 million. He has had more success than his Philly hockey namesake, as this Gustafsson had a knockout 2018-19 season with 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) for the Chicago Blackhawks, but last season slumped to 29 points (6 goals, 23 assists) in a season that included a trade to Calgary before the pandemic pause.
The Flyers, of course, are hoping he can be a comparatively inexpensive semblance of a replacement for the retiring Matt Niskanen, whose cap hit would have been $5.75 million.
Gustafsson could become a second-unit power play quarterback, as he served as the busiest Blackhawk power play point man prior to his trade to Calgary.
In a statement, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said Gustafsson, “is a mobile and skilled puck-moving defenseman who has produced well offensively both at even-strength and on the power play.
“We believe Erik will give us valuable minutes and be a nice addition to our group of young defensemen,” Fletcher added.
Earlier in the day, the Flyers signed 2020 fourth-round draft pick Zayde Wisdom to a threeyear entry-level contract.