Kings sign Erik Gustafsson to one-year deal
The Los Angeles Kings signed defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year contract.
The first to report the signing was Swedish hockey reporter Henrik Sjoberg, with TSN’s Pierre LeBrun later confirming it.
Sources: Erik Gustafsson is closing in on a one-year deal with @LAKings More: hockeynews.se/nyheter/avsloj… #GoKingsGo #NHL
Gustafsson spent the majority of the 2025-26 campaign with the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he scored four goals and recorded 33 assists for 37 points. He also appeared in two NHL games with Detroit last season.
The 34-year-old played in eight Calder Cup Playoff games, where he recorded a goal and five assists for six points.
In 10 NHL seasons, Gustafsson has recorded 47 goals and 193 assists for 240 points, averaging 18:31 of ice time in 517 career regular-season games with the Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Flyers, New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames.
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Gustafsson reached career highs in all offensive categories in 2018-19 as a member of the Blackhawks, scoring 17 goals and 43 assists for 60 points.
He’s also appeared in 49 Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring two goals and recording 10 assists for 12 points. He was part of the Canadiens’ 2021 Stanley Cup Final run.
In parts of four AHL seasons, Gustafsson has 15 goals and 80 assists for 95 points in 159 career regular-season games.
Gustafsson, taken in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, spent three seasons with Elitserien, Sweden’s top domestic league, where he recorded nine goals and 47 assists for 56 points in 146 career games with Frolunda HC and Djugardens IF Stockholm.
The Kings went 35-27-20 with 90 points in 2025-26, where they finished fourth in the Pacific Division and clinched the second Wildcard spot in the Western Conference. They were eliminated in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche.