LA Kings Training Camp Preview: Erik Gustafsson

It was a historic season for the Griffins, with Gustafsson playing a huge part. The Griffins won 31 of their first 37 games, a 15-game winning streak, a 16-game road point streak, a 19-game point streak, and the fastest team to 60 points. Unfortunately, the hot start saw the Griffins get vanquished in the AHL’s Division Finals series against the Chicago Wolves three games to one.

2026-27 outlook

The Kings inked Gustafsson to a one-year one-way deal worth $1,000,000. Gustafsson is reunited with new head coach Peter Laviolette, whom he had success under as a member of the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns. Gustafsson tallied 31 points in 76 games as a third-pair defenseman under Laviolette in the 2023-24 season.

Jacob Moverare occupied the seventh defenseman role for the last few seasons, but with him opting to continue his career in Switzerland, that role is vacant. Gustafsson will fight for that role with Scott Perunovich, who was also signed in the offseason.

Given that Gustafsson has experience and has played in Laviolette’s system before, there is a good chance he may wind up with that role. Having Gustafsson as a third-pairing defenseman in spot starts playing shelter minutes should be a good luxury for the Kings.