Detroit Red Wings assign longtime NHL veteran to the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins

Moments before the Detroit Red Wings take to the ice for their third game of the 2025/26 NHL regular season, news hits the media, as an unexpected veteran has officially been demoted.

On Saturday, October 11, the Detroit Red Wings officially assigned their longtime defenseman, Erik Gustafsson, to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Grand Rapids Griffins officially confirmed this demotion moments ago.

Full Article posted by griffinshockey.com: Erik Gustafsson demoted

This experienced 15-year veteran has undergone a total of 515 NHL games since the 2015/16 season, after being selected 93rd overall by the Edmonton Oilers during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

However, this season has already been an extremely tough one for Gustafsson.

It is evident that the National Hockey League can be brutal, and this defenseman is facing that heat right now.

This defenseman found himself on waivers recently, where he would later clear them.

Following this, he was healthy scratched for the NHL regular season opener on Thursday, October 9, against the Montreal Canadiens after clearing waivers.

Now, the Detroit Red Wings have officially sent him down to the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

Do you think the Detroit Red Wings made the right move by demoting Erik Gustafsson to the Grand Rapids Griffins?