Garrioch Says Oilers in Gustavsson Race
This is Jonas Gustavsson, who is known as “The Monster” because of his goaltending abilities. Based on this photo I think his name should be “The Really Skinny Monster” or “Frail Monster” because the kid needs to add some beef.
Elite prospects says he “is capable and had a good räckvidd. He’s a modern goalie with vigorous spelstil. He’s also mentally stout. Few by an act as bloomer.”
That sounds pretty good. In his column today, Bruce Garrioch says the Oilers are in the running (along with Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles).
Jonathan Willis had an excellent look at him recently (it is here) and suggests that “I’m not at all a fan of Gustavsson and Deslauriers as the tandem out of the gate, but I’d be very happy to see Gustavsson play as a 1A/1B goaltender with a reliable partner. This isn’t an opportunity the Oilers should pass on; certainly not for the sake of Jeff Deslauriers’ potential.”
I’d pretty much agree. If the Oilers sign this kid and make him eat some beef over the summer, and then sign Jason LaBarbara-Striesand as a co-#1 I’d like that way more than two seasons of Roloson with Deslauriers trying to get in the game.
The main reason The Really Skinny Monster has appeal as a goalie are his rolling SP’s. The 6.03, 112 pound (not really, he’s list at 180) goalie had a .932SP for Farjestad (SEL) this season, which compares well to other good league starters. Let’s list all of the starters in the SEL and their SP’s this year:
- Jonas Gustavsson Farjestad .932
- Mattias Modig Lulea .922
- Niklas Dahlberg Skelleftea .918
- Andreas Hadelov Skelleftea .918
- Johan Holmqvist Frolunda .917
- Jacob Markstrom Brynas .917
- Anders Lindback Brynas .916
- Gustaf Wesslaw Djugarden .914
- Stefan Liv HF 71 .912
- Bjorn Bjurling Sodertalje .909
Gustavsson is also well clear of his backup (Reinhard Divis) who posted an .889SP for the same team. I should mention Toronto is also going strong for this player, and historically Brian Burke has been very good at getting his man in a situation of this kind.
Another test for Tambellini.
Gusatavsson is sitting out this morning’s bronze medal game, they said why early in the broadcast but I was still waking up at the time and didn’t quite take it in.
A reminder that I’m hosting a live blog/GDT at Oil Droppings for the upcoming Gold Medal Game. We got a lively thread going there on Friday.
Thanks, LT, and I promise, no more self-promotions until 2009-10. This is the last game of the season that I actually care who wins.
The only issue I see would be his contract status. As he’s an older kid (23?) his entry-level would only last the year, correct? This could work out either well if he falters and isn’t the goalie he is hyped to be, or badly if we have to shell out money on yet another promising RFA again next year to go along with Cogliano and Gagner.
I haven’t seen any of him with the Worlds, saving parts of the Canada-Sweden game.
It’s quite odd that Vancouver would be in the running for him when you consider that they could ethnically cleanse their roster of seemingly all of Sweden this offseason. But the other three teams would be an excellent opportunity for him to step in immediately to challenge for the top spot. I agree that a LaBarbara or (my preference) Clemmensen would be essential to signing Gustavsson.
One thing’s for sure though, we seem to have an organizational hardon for big goalies in recent years.
Gustavsson’s mother is seriously ill. Once Sweden was eliminated from winning the gold medal, he went home.
I don’t doubt that the club is going after him, but if the number is too large, there are going to be some real issues with the cap.
Any reason we wouldn’t use Roloson in the 1A role? Is the writing on the wall?
I suppose we’ve heard enough rumblings about him wanting a two year deal, but I’m curious as to whether he’d get such an offer from anyone.
Garrioch says that the Oilers, Canucks, Kings and Maple Leafs are in the running, but Wayne Scanlan has a different story:
A 24-year-old free agent goaltender from Sweden, Gustavsson says he has narrowed his choice of NHL clubs to four: Dallas, Colorado, San Jose and Toronto.
Personally, if I were Gustavsson, Colorado would be my pick.
Matheson has it as Dallas in the EJ, so that would have to be the favorite.
Interesting quotes by Horcoff in regard to a new coach:
“Personally, hopefully they get somebody who can keep the Oiler style in mind.”
“If we get a coach that allows those offensive talents to come out, it may benefit us a bit more.”
Says a lot about what the veterans thought of how MacT was coaching.
Trader – the most telling comment I heard (Tom Gilbert interview on Oilers site – and I am cutting through the ‘cautious’ wording) was that they need a coach that develops a playing system for the OILERS because MacT developed a different system for each and every team they played against. Essentially, because of this, no body knew how they were supposed to be playing.
Is the kid actually wearing any equipment in that photo?
Bookie – add those type of comments to the hatred MacT had for certain guys..Penner, Pouliot, Nilsson and the unconditional luv for the likes of Reddox, Strudwick, Moreau and no wonder we had such a mess.
What made it so frustating in my eyes was that the MSM never questioned MacT’s so called strategy or how he used certain players..unbelieveable
Watch Natsha Naked!
Natasha is hot
I like that more women are participating here
So is it even worth while pursuing this Gusatavsson guy since MacTavish already ruined him?
If the Oilers are interested in a big Scandanavian goalie, might we see them target Mikko Koskinen at the draft? 6’7″ and apparently quick on his feet.
bookie, your comments to me indicate why mact seems to be a better playoff coach than regular season
Slipper: Just curious, who you are related to; Marty Sakic, Reddox, Peterson or MacTavish himself.
I would really like to see us sign Gustavsson.
But when both Prendergast and Tambo were asked about him. Their interest seemed to be just above lukewarm. Which I suspect in return their actual offer reflects that level of interest unfortunately.
I get the feeling that Prendergast and possibly others love-in with JDD is going to burn us. KP can not seem use the word “blue chipper” enough every time Deslauriers name comes up.
If Gustavsson is on an entry level contract, what does that mean about bonus contracts? Doesn’t that mean that the oilers can exceed that amount of the cap. If so, doesn’t signing Gustavsson to a contract similar to Halak and then loading up with bonuses seem like a good game plan?
I’m not a cba expert but this seems to be a good oppourtunity to use that Katz money to circumnavigate the cap.
Sean – I actually think that the detroit series kind of ‘ruined’ him because his tendencies to overcoach were affirmed as a plus for him.
I also think that while the team was well coached for the 2006 playoffs, they benefited from ‘playoff level’ motivation so one of MacT’s other weakenesses was covered up (the ability to motivate a team and get them back on track). Lowe tends to go after guys who are a bit cheaper because they are headcases in the regular season, but who have a second gear that they can engage when highly motivated (i.e. durring the playoffs).
Anyway… I guess thats enough said about the old coach – I am very interested in seeing who the new coach is and seeing a team that is more aggressive (and I hope it works out).
I’m not going to say it’s unlikely, but isn’t at least odd that 3 of the teams mentioned at the top of the list interested in Gusatavsson are extremely set at goal?
Van-Luongo
Dal- Turco
SJ-Nabakov
I mean, if the kid was 19 and looking to apprentice for 3 or 4 years it makes sense but these number 1′s are as much a sure thing as any in the NHL.
Now Edmonton, LA, Colorado and Toronto make sense, as does Philly.
@Knighttown
Turco and Nabokov aren’t very good goaltenders anymore. Luongo is, but his comments on signing with the best team (which Vancouver is not) might have Vancounver management trying to hedge its bets.
knightown:
Actually all 3 of those team’s make sense to me and Garrioch is not very good at predicting. Look at each situation:
Turco will be 34 at the start of next season and it’s not unreasonable to think that it’s time to find an eventual replacement and Gustavasson can be groomed.
Luongo. He’s a UFA after next season and who knows if he wants to come back. Corey Schneider would be ready (conceivably) by then but you’d want to have insurance.
Nabokov. After another playoff stinker, SJ is looking at all it’s leader’s and has to wonder if they have the mental fortitude to ever get it done. They may believe Nabokov plays better when pushed.
As for Toronto, well they are in the process of re-building but like Edmonton, are trying to do it by drafting from the middle of the pack (versus letting the bottom fall out and having a couple of deep drafts to build around). That’s never easy.
Colorado is in for a re-build and may have another year or two of very bad ahead of it.
LA is close but I believe they have several guys they believe in right now (although if there’s a question at goal, that’s a team I would not mind playing behind with all that great D stocked).
Edmonton? Hmmm. What track record do we have of developing goalie talent (since the 1980′s)?
You make the call.
I think the complete quote from 10 goes something like “considering the guys they drafted, it might be better to go with an offensive approach.”
I don’t see any reason why this guy would sign with the Oil. The Wings are Swede Central and there’s even a subdivision where all the guys outside of Zetterberg live.
Note: it begins with an “N” and I’m sure you can find it if you care:)
Anyway, I understand the Wings aren’t named as suitors but I just list them because of the number of countrymen and because this is a team that actually makes the playoffs.
The Oil are garbage and it’s a place of judgement for employees not named Kevin Lowe.
Outside of that, fuck, yeah, it’s a real place to play when you’ve got a choice.
I can see him ending up in Dallas with Brunnstrom.
Would be very nice if he ended up in Edmonton, enticed by an incentive ladden contract and a promise of a 1A shot to Roloson’s 1B; then turned into a better, younger version of Backstrom.
Ah, dare to dream.