Chicago Blackhawks bring back defenseman Erik Gustafsson on one-year deal

CHICAGO The Blackhawks brought Erik Gustafsson back on Monday and agreed to a one-year deal with the free-agent defender. Gustafsson was released by the residents of New York on Sunday. The Chicago deal is worth $ 800,000.
Gustafsson’s return strengthens the Blackhawks’ blue line after losing young defenders Caleb Jones and Wyatt Kalynuk to injuries. Jones sprained his left wrist and Kalynuk sprained his right ankle.

The Blackhawks visit Colorado on Wednesday for the season opener. Gustafsson, 29, made his NHL debut with Chicago in 2015. In addition to that, he set 19 career highs with 17 goals and 43 assists in 79 games for the Blackhawks in the 2018 season.
He was traded to Calgary for a selection of third rounds in February 2020. He played for Philadelphia and Montreal last season, scoring one goal and 11 assists in 29 games. Gustafsson has 29 goals and 102 assists in 250 career regular-season games, plus one goal and seven assists in 31 playoff games.
The Blackhawks also sent four AHL players to Rockford; Forwards MacKenzie Entwistle and Philipp Kurashev and goalkeepers Collin Delia and Malcolm Subban.