Photo: NBC Sports
The Washington Capitals signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Erik Gustafsson, who shoots left-handed, to a one-year, $800,000 contract.
Erik Gustafsson to Washington Capitals
— Per Bjurman (@BjurmanPer) July 13, 2022
The 30-year-old earned three goals, 18 points, a -4 rating, 50% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 47.07% expected goals-for percentage, and 47.71% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 59 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season. He averaged 16:13 per game (eighth among Blackhawks defensemen), including 1:56 on the power play (second).
In 309 career regular-season games with the Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadiens, Gustafsson has 32 goals, 149 points, and a -8 rating. He had a 17-goal, 60-point season in 79 games with Chicago in 2018-19.
Gustafsson will likely play on the Capitals’ third pairing next to Trevor Van Riemsdyk. The team needed a replacement after Justin Schultz signed a two-year deal with the Seattle Kraken earlier on Wednesday.
After signing Gustafsson, Kuemper, Lindgren, and defenseman Matt Irwin, the Capitals had $3,628,334 left in cap space.
By Harrison Brown
Is this Bengt’s son?
I dont think so. The Caps drafted his son Anton back in 2008 and played, I think 1 game thei the Stingrays and quit and went home.
No, he’s Gustaf’s son. Not sure why we bothered. Not good news for Lucas Johansen, tho.
Not a bad signing as he has experiemce and probably came cheap and heard it ws only for 1 year so maybe around #1.5? See where Bowet signed with Montreal for $750K for 1 year.
He had an explosive rookie season but has played for losers ever since. There is some upside as a depth offensive defenseman, but I’d guess he plays closer to 20 games than 60.