Blackhawks agree to terms with Erik Gustafsson and Tyler Sikura

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with defenseman Erik Gustafsson that runs through the 2019-20 season. In addition, the Blackhawks have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with forward Tyler Sikura for the 2018-19 season.
A native of Nynashamn, Sweden, Gustafsson has recorded five points (1G, 4A) in 19 games with the Blackhawks this year, tallying his first career National Hockey League goal in his season debut on Jan. 20 against the New York Islanders. Prior to being recalled on Jan. 9, Gustafsson registered 17 points (3G, 14A) in 25 games with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League and was selected to the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic.

Originally signed by Chicago on April 30, 2015, he was named Rockford's Defenseman of the Year after the 2016-17 season, pacing the club in assists (25). He made his NHL debut during the 2015-16 season, picking up 14 helpers in 41 regular-season games with the Blackhawks. He also notched an assist in five playoff contests.
Prior to coming to North America, he had 56 points (9G, 47A) in 146 career regular-season games in the Swedish Hockey League, spanning three seasons with Frolunda (2013-15) and Djurgarden (2011-12). The 25-year-old was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (93rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
Sikura, 25, currently leads the IceHogs with 16 goals in his first season with the team. He has also chipped in nine assists during the 2017-18 campaign. Sikura recorded a career-long five-game goal streak (5G) from Jan. 6-13. He has also logged three multi-point games with Rockford this season.
Across parts of three seasons (2014-17), he skated in 22 AHL games with the Springfield Falcons, Portland Pirates and Iowa Wild. Additionally, Sikura played in 115 ECHL games with the Toledo Walleye (2015-17) and Manchester Monarchs (2017). He was second on the Walleye with 48 points (16G, 32A) during the 2015-16 regular season.
The Ontario, Canada native attended Dartmouth College (NCAA) from 2011-15, serving as the team captain in each of his final two seasons. He was selected to the All-Ivy League First Team in 2012-13 after leading the club in goals (12), assists (20) and points (32).