Erik Gustafsson

Playing for Peter Laviolette in Washington last season, Gustafsson exceeded even the most optimistic expectations, appearing in 61 games for the club and racking up seven goals and 38 points, including 11 with the man advantage before a deadline deal sent him to the Maple Leafs. He added four assists (three on the power play) in nine games as a part-timer in Toronto. Laviolette was fired by the Caps and hired by the Rangers and Gustafsson rejoined him on Broadway, signing a ridiculously team-friendly one-year, $825K contract. Adam Fox is locked in as the quarterback on New York's No. 1 power-play unit, but Gustafsson should run the second group, which could include quality players such as Blake Wheeler, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapo Kakko. Gustafsson could easily produce late-round fantasy value once again in 2023-24.

Gustafsson has bounced around since his 2018-19 breakout campaign with Chicago which saw him post 17 goals and 60 points in 79 games. He's played for three different clubs since in addition to a second stint with the Blackhawks a year ago. Gustafsson signed a one-year, $800K deal with Washington in July. It's an odd fit given the fact the Capitals employ one of the league's best power-play quarterbacks in John Carlson. Gustafsson's play in his own zone is notoriously unreliable, meaning he may have a difficult time cracking the Washington lineup on a nightly basis in 2022-23.

Gustafsson began last season in Philadelphia before being shipped to Montreal in April. His offensive production (12 points in 29 games) was fine as usual, but his sub-par defensive play banished him to the press box for long stretches at a time. Gustafsson has value as a power-play specialist who is severely sheltered at even strength, but NHL clubs would rather hand that opportunity to a younger player as opposed to a 29-year-old veteran. Gustafsson remains unsigned late into free agency for a reason. Look elsewhere for your late-round fantasy production.

Gustafsson started the 2019-20 campaign with the Blackhawks, totaling six goals and 26 points in 59 games before being dealt to the Flames at the trade deadline, where he added three helpers in seven regular-season contests and four apples in 10 postseason tilts. The 28-year-old Swede joined the Flyers on a one-year deal this offseason, and he's expected to settle into a top-four role and a spot on the second power-play unit with his new club in 2020-21. Gustafsson should be able to produce at around a 35-point pace with Philadelphia during the upcoming campaign, a third of which should come with the man advantage, but that won't make him anything more than a fringe bench option in most fantasy formats.

Gustafsson exploded last season, setting career highs in goals (17), assists (43), shots on goal (160) and power-play points (18) while averaging 22:35 of ice time in 79 appearances. The 27-year-old Swede was unable to gain the trust of former coach Joel Quenneville during his first three seasons in Chicago, appearing in just 76 NHL contests over that span, but rookie head coach Jeremy Colliton was far more willing to forgive Gustafsson's defensive lapses last year in order to utilize his strengths (quarterbacking the power play and joining the attack on the rush. That leap of faith paid dividends, and allowed Gustafsson to emerge as one of the NHL's top offensive-minded blueliners. The 2012 fourth-round pick finished sixth among all defensemen in scoring last campaign, and there's no reason to believe he won't be able to put up similar numbers in 2019-20. The fact that Gustafsson's set to become an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2020-21 season is a bit of a concern from a fantasy standpoint, as the Blackhawks may be tempted to move him at the trade deadline if they're not in a playoff position, but fantasy owners shouldn't let that hypothetical deter them from snagging the left-handed rearguard as a high-end No.2 option during this year's drafts.

Gustafsson only appeared in 35 games with the Blackhawks last season, but he was pretty productive over that span, picking up five goals and 16 points while averaging 18:33 of ice time per contest. The 2012 fourth-round pick appears poised to slot into a middle-pairing role this campaign, and if he's given opportunities to contribute on the power play, he could realistically eclipse the 40-point mark, making him a fine depth addition to most fantasy rosters.