Despite he leaving new york rangers disappointment will be on Peter Philip Laviolette Jr….

Enjoying his postseason run with the Rangers, Erik Gufstafsson was benched during the previous postseason

WASHINGTON For the fifth time in his NHL career, Erik Gustafsson is participating in the playoffs with his fifth different team.

The Rangers defenseman is getting another postseason opportunity after he mainly played as a healthy scratch for the team Washington traded him to, the Maple Leafs, during the previous playoffs. Playing against the team he started with last season, the Capitals, added another level to the series.

Following Game Four of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Charlie Lindgren of the Washington Capitals and Erik Gustafsson of the New York Rangers exchange handshakes.
Getty Images via NHLI
Prior to the Rangers’ series-clinching Game 4 victory against the Capitals on Sunday night, Gustafsson said to The Post, “It was tough getting traded last year, when you had a good year in Washington and all that.” It was difficult to get to Toronto, although it was mostly related to business. They had a terrific D corps, and I also suffered injuries. Though I’ve played a lot of postseason games, I only played a few games [for Toronto].

“Having fun is also a plus here. We have a fantastic crew here. Just

attempting to incorporate all of my recent experience that I have gained into this.

The Swedish defenceman missed the first five games of Toronto’s first-round series against the Lightning due to an upper-body injury sustained at the conclusion of the 2022–2023 regular season.

The 32-year-old has been a reliable presence on the blue line and has contributed an offensive mindset, appearing in 76 of 82 games.