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Gustavsson believes he has ‘another 10 years of good hockey’ left

Jonas Gustavsson

Jonas Gustavsson

AP

After an injury plagued season Jonas Gustavsson’s time in Detroit appears over.

Last week GM Ken Holland hinted at Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek competing for the starter’s role next season.

“We need great goaltending,” Holland said per the Detroit Free Press. “We need the two of them to compete to be ready to come to training camp to battle for ice time. Pro sports is a competition.”

A shoulder injury followed by a concussion limited Gustavsson to just seven appearances in the Wings’ net this season where he was 3-3-1 with a 2.56 G.A.A. and a .911 save percentage.

“My shoulder injury kept me out of long time,” Gustavsson said. “I didn’t know if I was going to come back or if I needed surgery. I did pretty much everything I could rehab-wise to try and come back. I managed to get back and play a few games, then I got the concussion. Obviously, I never got in a rhythm. Then at the end of the season, we had two other goalies. Mrazek came up and played great. It wasn’t much room for me, and I understood that.

“Tried to work on my game in the shadows, tried to keep pushing myself. Tried to be a good teammate. Hopefully that’s going to help me in the future.”

Gustavsson’s one-year, $1.85 million contract is set to expire making him an unrestricted free agent in July.

In three seasons with the Wings he put together a 21-10-6 record to go along with a 2.67 G.A.A. and a .904 save percentage.

The 30-year-old believes he has lots of good hockey left him.

“Hopefully I can stay in this league,” Gustavsson. “I feel I have lots left in the tank. I’m only 30 years old. So, hopefully have another 10 years of good hockey in me.”

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