DETROIT — Born in Nynashamn, Sweden, Eric Gustafsson grew up admiring Detroit Red Wings star Swedish defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom.

After signing a two-year free-agent contract with the Red Wings on July 1, Gustafsson has joined the same club as his childhood hockey idol.

During his introductory Zoom call with the media on July 2, Gustafsson expressed his delight at being able to join the esteemed organization of Detroit. He mentioned his happiness upon receiving the call from his agent and being able to finalize the deal. Gustafsson further stated his excitement in becoming a valued member of the team.

During the 2023-24 season, Gustafsson played for the New York Rangers, notching 31 points. This included six goals and 25 assists across 76 regular-season games, as well as three assists across 16 playoff games.

The 32-year-old defenseman, who was initially chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (93rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, has accumulated 222 points throughout his career spanning 455 games. He has played for various teams including the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Rangers.

Steve Yzerman, the Executive Vice President and General Manager, has expressed his anticipation for Gustafsson to assume a significant role within the Red Wings.

Yzerman expressed his hope that Eric Gustafsson would help make up for the offensive contributions lost from Shayne Gostisbehere and Jake Walman. Additionally, Yzerman wished for the team to improve defensively, resulting in a positive outcome.

Gustafsson, a highly skilled defenseman proficient in both offense and defense, possesses the ability to lead a power play. He expressed his desire to fulfill this role while playing for the Detroit team.

Gustafsson expressed his preference for running on the blue line, delivering passes to the forwards, taking shots, and creating open paths for scoring. He confidently stated his intention to contribute goals and emphasized his belief in his power play abilities.

When the 2024 NHL free agency started, Gustafsson revealed that he had received interest from various teams. However, he expressed his satisfaction with his decision to join the Red Wings.

Gustafsson expressed that while free agency can be a bit anxiety-inducing, he was aware of the teams that showed interest in acquiring him. He further revealed his delight in joining Detroit, considering its rich history and the presence of Swedish players there.

Gustafsson expressed his eagerness to reunite with several familiar faces in Detroit, having previously played alongside Tyler Motte for the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs (2016-17), Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat in Chicago (2017-20, 2021-22), goalie Cam Talbot in Calgary (2019-20), Olli Maatta in Chicago (2019-20), netminder Alex Lyon in Philadelphia (2020-21), Ben Chiarot and Jeff Petry in Montreal (2020-21), Joe Snively in Washington (2022-23), and Justin Holl in Toronto (2022-23).

“I believe our team has the talent and cohesion to progress further this year,” expressed Gustafsson. “Having Kaner back with us is exciting, as we will once again be playing on the same team. I eagerly anticipate the upcoming year.”