Detroit Red Wings defenseman Erik Gustafsson is already in training camp. He’s on the ice, working out with Swedish club Djurgarden of the SHL.

It’s just a temporary situation . . . for the time being.

“We try to keep as close contact with them as possible,” Djurgarden sporting director Niklas Wikegård told Hockeynews Sweden of potential future players.

Man kan väl säga att Detroit-backen Erik Gustafsson och Djurgården håller kontakten.#twittpuck #difhockey #Redwingshttps://t.co/3HHw0dFzrW

— Mattias Ek (@hockeyeken) August 5, 2025

Gustafsson, 33, played with Djurgarden from 2009-13, starting with the junior squad and working his way up to the club’s senior team. It’s not uncommon for Swedish NHLers to return home to finish out their playing days.

Recently, former Washington Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom revealed he’ll be playing this season for Brynas. Earlier in the summer, former Red Wings defenseman Robert Hagg also joined Brynas.

Peter Forsberg, Mats Naslund, Hakan Loob, and Borje Salming are some legendary Swedish NHLers who made the decision to go home and finish out their playing days. Salming left the Red Wings following the 1989-90 season to play with AIK.

Gustafsson Has Another Year With Red Wings

Gustafsson will be playing his second season with the Red Wings on a two-year deal with an AAV of $2 million. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Journeyman is an apt description of Gustafsson’s NHL playing career. When he returns to the Red Wings next month for training camp, it will mark the first season since 2019-20 that he’ll be setting out with the same club that he finished up with the season prior.

Since that 2019-20 season, Gustafsson has switched teams eight times.

Djurgården är på is och ger full gas.
Då var Detroit-backen Erik Gustafsson (i röda byxor) med på Hovet.#twittpuck #difhockey #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Y0oq9inP3y

— Mattias Ek (@hockeyeken) August 4, 2025

“It’s been a lot of teams, but it’s always fun to get an opportunity on a new team,” Gustafsson said. “I think every experience is different.”

Gustafsson accounted for 2-16-18 digits in 60 games with Detroit last season. He was also minus-19.

However, the Red Wings’ braintrust felt Gustafsson’s game grew more consistent after Todd McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde as coach.

“Overall, I’m satisfied with what we got,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said of Gustafsson’s performance. “Can he do more? Yeah. And I think I expect more of what Gus did in the second half than in the first half.”