The Detroit Red Wings made a pair of notable roster moves on Sunday morning, shuffling their blue line and forward depth as they prepare to host the New Jersey Devils on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit announced they’ve recalled defenseman Erik Gustafsson from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins while placing forward Elmer Soderblom on injured reserve, retroactive to November 9.
Gustafsson Returns as Blue Line Reinforcement
The 33-year-old Gustafsson heads back to Detroit with over 500 NHL games under his belt and a well-earned reputation as a puck-moving veteran. The Swedish defenseman has logged 47 goals, 193 assists, and 240 career points while averaging more than 18 minutes per game.
He played 60 games for Detroit last season, tallying 18 points while helping stabilize the blue line during a push toward contention.
With the Wings currently sitting 1st in the Atlantic Division at 13-8-1 and battling through a demanding early schedule, adding an experienced defender back to the mix should help settle their defensive pairings for the coming stretch.
Soderblom Lands on IR After Slow Start
Elmer Soderblom’s season hits another speed bump, as the 6-foot-8 winger heads to IR after playing 11 games this year. Soderblom posted just one goal before the injury, continuing a stop-and-start development curve since entering the league in 2022.
The move is backdated to November 9, meaning he can return soon if healthy, but for now, Detroit will lean on their forward depth to fill the void.
Wings Aim to Maintain Division Lead
Detroit enters Monday’s showdown with New Jersey (7:00 PM ET) holding a slim division lead over the Lightning, Senators, and Bruins, all one point back. With Gustafsson returning and the blue line getting deeper, the Wings will look to tighten things up defensively after allowing 70 goals through 22 games.
It’s another reminder that even in a tight Eastern Conference race, Detroit continues to find ways to keep the roster fresh, healthy, and competitive heading into Thanksgiving week.
