John Leonard Recalled by Detroit, Erik Gustafsson Reassigned to Griffins
Published on December 15, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Detroit Red Wings recalled forward John Leonard from the Grand Rapids Griffins and reassigned defenseman Erik Gustafsson to Grand Rapids.
Leonard has 29 points and 19 goals in 20 games with the Griffins this season to go along with two penalty minutes and a plus-14 rating. In the AHL rankings, the sixth-year veteran ranks third in points, first in goals, first in game-winners (7), and tied for eighth in plus-minus rating. He was named the Fortune Tires "Expect More" AHL Player of the Month for November with 16 points (9-7-16) in 10 games, and became just the third player in franchise history to win the award, joining Riley Barber (April 2022) and Chris Minard (Feb. 2012). Leonard's career-best 10-game point streak set a franchise record to begin both a season and a Griffins career. His career-high six-game goal streak from Oct. 11-Nov. 2 tied with teammate Austin Watson, Jiri Hudler, Kip Miller and Pavol Demitra for the third-longest run in franchise history. Last season, Leonard ranked among the AHL leaders in points (61, T10th), goals (36, T2nd), power-play goals (10, T9th), short-handed goals (5, T1st) and shots (252, 2nd). At the NHL level, the 27-year-old 17 points (6-11-17) in 70 games, as he last saw NHL action during the 2023-24 season with Arizona.
Gustafsson, a 15-year-veteran, has 14 points (1-13-14) and a plus-13 rating in 14 games with Grand Rapids. Among AHL defensemen, Gustafsson is tied for ninth in assists, tied for 13th in points and fourth in plus-minus rating. He has competed in 516 NHL games since 2015-16 after being selected with the 93rd overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Last season with the Detroit Red Wings, the 33-year-old showed 18 points (2-16-18) and 20 penalty minutes in 60 games. In his NHL career, Gustafsson has notched 240 points (47-193-240) and 163 penalty minutes in 516 regular-season games, adding 12 points (2-10-12) and 10 penalty minutes in 49 Stanley Cup Playoff outings. The Nynashamn, Sweden, native last played in the AHL during the 2017-18 season when he totaled 17 points (3-14-17) in 25 games with the Rockford IceHogs. Gustafsson spent three seasons in the AHL with Rockford from 2015-18 and registered a combined 58 points (11-47-58) and 96 penalty minutes in 120 appearances. He posted his best AHL season in 2016-17 with 30 points (5-25-30) and 40 penalty minutes in 25 games with Rockford.
At the international level, Gustafsson has appeared in five World Championships with Team Sweden since 2016, producing 21 points (2-19-21) in 40 games and winning one gold medal (2018) and a bronze medal (2025). At the 2025 World Championship, he tied for second among all defensemen with seven assists in 10 games.
Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information. Single-game tickets for the Griffins' 2025-26 season can be purchased through griffinshockey.com/tickets.
American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2025
- Firebirds' Fourth Annual Teddy Bear Toss Set for this Friday Night - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- St. Louis Blues Recall F Otto Stenberg from T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Iowa Wild signs Forward Dylan Gambrell to AHL Contract - Iowa Wild
- Bears Close out Homestand - Hershey Bears
- Zac Funk Re-Assigned to Hershey - Hershey Bears
- IceHogs to Host Outdoor Practice in Belvidere January 6 - Rockford IceHogs
- Leon Muggli Re-Assigned to Team Switzerland for World Junior Championship - Hershey Bears
- F Kyle Jackson Recalled from Loan to ECHL Bloomington - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Community Spirit Shines Through as Belleville Sens Wrap Eight-Game Homestand - Belleville Senators
- Ontario Reign Weekly - Week 11 - Ontario Reign
- Coachella Valley Firebirds to Host Fuego's Season of Giving Pop-Up Event on December 16 at Acrisure Arena - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Jakob Pelletier Named Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week - Syracuse Crunch
- Syracuse's Jakob Pelletier Named Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Burgdoerfer to be Inducted into Condors Hall of Fame - Bakersfield Condors
- Hutson Recalled to Edmonton; Pitlick Traded to Rockford - Bakersfield Condors
- Stanley Cup® to Appear at December 21 Checkers Game - Charlotte Checkers
- Home for the Holidays Guide - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- John Leonard Recalled by Detroit, Erik Gustafsson Reassigned to Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Defenseman Steven Santini from Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
