PuckSleuth
64

Los Angeles Kings · Defense · Shoots L

Erik Gustafsson

Age 34 · 6'0" · 190 lb · Born in Nynashamn, SWE

Cap hit

$1M

1.0% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$3.89M

vs. $4.89M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

GP

2

Goals

0

0.0% shooting

Assists

0

0 primary

Points

0

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

18:45

PP 1:08 · PK 0:00

xGF%

48.8

5v5, -1.5 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.20

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

-2

Blocks 1 · Hits 2

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Jan 31
vs COL · L 5-0
0011020:062:160:00—5020-1-0.30
Nov 26
vs NSH · L 6-3
0021117:230:000:00—5011-1-0.09
Mar 18
@ WSH · L 4-1
0000013:340:000:00—3312-2-0.17
Mar 16
vs VGK · W 3-0
0120016:031:320:00—10020+1+0.46
Mar 14
@ CAR · L 4-2
0012017:061:290:00—25200-0.11

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2024-25 · 841 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%50.3%

54th percentile

Relative xGF%+3.3

83rd percentile

HDCF%46.7%

33rd percentile

CF%51.7%

73rd percentile

Relative CF%+4.7

92nd percentile

FF%50.7%

63rd percentile

GF%40.0%

13th percentile

CF/6057.6

51st percentile

CA/6053.8

87th percentile

ixG/600.30

73rd percentile

Goals above expected-2.2

7th percentile

IPP34.6%

53rd percentile

PDO96.8

12th percentile

OZS%63.3%

92nd percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play style

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2024-25

Shooting volume
78
Playmaking
96
Zone entries(est.)
—
Forechecking
—
Physicality
6
Defensive impact
71
Puck management
3
Speed
—

Where he shoots from

No unblocked shots yet.

Strengths

  • Playmaking: 96th percentile among defensemen.
  • Shooting volume: 78th percentile among defensemen.
  • Defensive impact: 71st percentile among defensemen.

Watch-outs

  • Puck management: 3rd percentile among defensemen.
  • Physicality: 6th percentile among defensemen.

Similar style: Shea Theodore (VGK), Thomas Harley (DAL)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added. A written scouting summary appears once Claude play-style writing is switched on.

Where his Game Score comes from

2024-25 · 60 GP · goals above average

Season total +0.5 goals, or +0.01 per game.

Even strength offense
-0.1
Even strength defense
+0.2
Power play
+0.9
Finishing
-2.2
Playmaking
+2.9
Penalties
-1.1

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-SOGTOI/GPFO%GS/GP
2025-26DET2000-2318:45—-0.20
2024-25DET6021618-196716:19—+0.01
2023-24NYR7662531+39317:24—+0.05
2022-23TOR, WSH7073542+912219:46—+0.07

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 34, defensemen typically produce 71% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed
20.5 mph
15th pct
20+ mph bursts
2
Hardest shot
82.5 mph
17th pct
Distance
6.1 mi
OZ time
40.6%
33rd pct
DZ time
34.6%