Friday’s waiver update leads to all-time low in young forward’s career

On Thursday, the Winnipeg Jets placed forward David Gustafsson on waivers ahead of the team’s season opener later that night against the Dallas Stars.

On Friday, the 25-year-old cleared the wire, meaning he will be headed back down to the minors.

Gustafsson had two goals and six points in 36 games with the Jets last season, but never managed to be part of the full time roster.

Now, his demotion on Friday leads to an all all-time low in his career after playing only a total of 149 NHL games for the Jets and has jumped up and down from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and the main roster in the NHL.

For a guy like Gustafsson, who was selected in the second round, 60th overall by Winnipeg in 2018, it’s difficult to see where this leads, as he hasn’t had the ability to establish himself as a full-time NHL player quite yet.

Same thing unfortunately happened to his older brother recenlty, Erik Gustafsson, who was beat out for a roster spot in Detroit. The Red Wings placed him on waivers last weekend and Erik would clear and was sent him to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

For the veteran defenseman, this is the first time he’ll play in the AHL since the 2017-18 season, when he spent 25 games with the Rockford IceHogs, a Blackhawks affiliate. He was originally drafted 93rd overall in 2012 and has played a total of 515 NHL games, suiting up for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, and the Red Wings.

Sure, it had a been time in the NHL than his younger brother so far, but let’s see what David Gustafsson can do to prove himself to the Jets whenever a spot opens up front…

As for other waiver news on Friday, no players were placed on the wire.