It's not a "splashy" move by any means, but the Detroit Red Wings have inked goaltender Jonas Gustavsson to a two-year deal, according to multiple reports. The deal is worth $3 million, according to Bob Duff, meaning Gustavsson will have a cap hit of $1.5 million per season.
The move to find a backup goalie was a priority for the Red Wings this offseason. Last season, the Red Wings had Ty Conklin and Joey MacDonald to back up Jimmy Howard, and both saw action when Howard went down with an injury. MacDonald overtook Conklin for the backup job during this time, but back issues became a concern for MacDonald in the final months of the season.
With Gustavsson joining the fold, the Red Wings now appear to have their backup goalie job set. MacDonald will likely remain in the mix for the job, and he will be around in case an injury happens, but Gustavsson is being signed to back up Howard for the next two seasons.
Gustavsson spent his first three seasons in the NHL playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last season, he appeared in 42 games and had a 17-17-4 record. His rights were traded to the Winnipeg Jets last week, but a deal never developed, allowing him to hit free agency and sign with the Red Wings.
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