After recording an assist last Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Erik Gustafsson became just the third Blackhawk defenseman to score 50 points in a season since 1996. Brian Campbell is the only other defenseman besides Duncan Keith to record 50 points for Chicago since Gary Suter did so 23 years ago. Gustafsson has been atrocious in the defensive zone for most of the year, but his offense certainly has been a bright spot for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Since being scratched in back-to-back games on December 11th and 12th by Head Coach Jeremy Colliton, Erik Gustafsson has been one of the most productive defensemen in the entire NHL. Gustafsson currently ranks eighth in defenseman scoring with four more points than last year's Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman. If someone predicted at the beginning of the season that Erik Gustafsson would score more points than Victor Hedman, that person would rightfully have been laughed out of the room. Gustafsson has been absolutely fantastic since spending a couple of nights in the press box, though. He has been producing at nearly a point-per-game pace with eight goals and 29 assists in 38 games. [caption id="attachment_123102" align="alignnone" width="350"] 2018-19 NHL Defensemen Scoring Leaders[/caption] Erik Gustafsson is on the payroll for only $1.2M until the end of next season. Even though his defense has been poor this year, for his current offensive production, he is one heck of a bargain. The Blackhawks gave Gustafsson this contract so he could prove to the team what he can do. So far he has definitely been impressive in the offensive zone and on the power play. But the own zone problems for the Swedish-born defenseman give the Blackhawks and their fans some doubt about exactly where he fits in the future. [caption id="attachment_123100" align="alignnone" width="350"] Erik Gustafsson's Current NHL Contract.[/caption]

Will Erik Gustafsson Ever Be A Top 4 Defenseman?

Erik Gustafsson is currently averaging a little over 22 minutes per game this season and has been used mostly in a top-four role. His struggles have been apparent though, and the Blackhawks currently have one of the league's worst defenses. Gustafsson turned 27 a few days ago, so he isn't exactly a prospect at this point of his career. His defensive problems have been noticeable since his rookie year, and he really hasn't made any significant improvements. Even though Gustafsson has a team-worst -11 Plus-Minus rating, the Blackhawks don't have any choice but to keep giving him top-pairing minutes. He's also been on the ice for 73 opponent goals this season, which is the most by any Blackhawk defenseman. Gustafsson's play in an important role has been a lot like the Blackhawks season: a roller coaster ride. There are times where he looks fantastic offensively and is a big part of victories. Then, there are times where he is the definition of a liability in front of his goaltender. With this kind of up-and-down play, it's hard to picture Erik Gustafsson as a top-four defenseman for a good Blackhawk team in the future. [caption id="attachment_123110" align="alignnone" width="351"] Erik Gustafsson's Career NHL Statistics.[/caption] Despite the rocky ride of a season, Erik Gustafsson has been a breakout player in the NHL this year. He's successfully quarterbacked the power play back to life, and he has the second-most points from a defenseman in the last three months. Gustafsson's previous career high in points was 16, so he's clearly made a significant leap this year. In his first full NHL season, Erik Gustafsson has proved to be one of the most offensively-skilled defensemen in the league.

Hopefully, the upward trend continues with Gustafsson, and his defense continues to improve with more experience.