There will be a battle this fall for a lot of the different positions on this Capitals team. Some of those battles will be defense position and who gets a sweater at any given game. I perceive Erik Gustafsson to be a depth signing. Where does he fit into the Capitals lineup?

Gustafsson, 30, recorded 18 points (3g, 15a) in 59 games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021-22. The 6’0”, 197-pound defenseman ranked third among Chicago defensemen in points, second in power play points (4) and fourth in shots (79). Gustafsson also represented Sweden at the 2022 World Championship, where he recorded seven assists in eight games.

During the 2020-21 season, Gustafsson recorded 12 points (1g, 11a) and 16:43 time on ice per game in 29 games with Philadelphia and Montreal.

The Nynäshamn, Sweden native skated in 214 games with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2015-16 to 2019-20, producing a career-high 60 points (17g, 43a) in 79 games in 2018-19.

Gustafsson, who was signed as a free agent by Chicago on April 30, 2015, has recorded 149 points (32g, 117a) in 309 career NHL games with Chicago, Calgary, Philadelphia and Montreal. In 31 career playoff games, Gustafsson has registered eight points (1g, 7a) and a +3 plus/minus rating.

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