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Swedish goalie to visit Leafs

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The Maple Leafs are on Jonas Gustavsson's short list and he's coming to the city to get a closer look. The 24-year-old Swedish phenom, who is regarded as the best goaltender not in the NHL, will visit the city in the next two weeks to decide where he wants to sign as a unrestricted free agent. Leafs general manager Brian Burke told reporters the club is one of three teams on Gustavsson's list. Reports indicate the Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars have shown interest in Gustavsson, who has delayed making the trip to North America after the death of his mother.

Toronto Sun

Jonas Gustavsson, Getty Images Jonas Gustavsson, Getty Images
June 3, 2009  08:24 AM ET

this guy is for real! any of these three teams that get this guy gets a serious upgrade and net and potential starter for the beginning of the season!

June 3, 2009  08:42 AM ET

The new GM of the Dallas Stars is Joe Nieuwendyk, who just left the Leafs and was involved in Gustavsson talks with Toronto to begin with, and now continues them with Dallas instead, alongside Les Jackson, the former GM who is now back over the scouting team and had been talking to Gustavsson as well. And, Dallas Star swede Fabian Brunnstrom is very close friends with Gustavsson. This guy's a Dallas Star by the end of June.

June 3, 2009  08:49 AM ET

what happened to the last Swedish phenom the stars signed.... when will scouts realize that the SEL is not as good as the OHL and that the number 1 player there would maybe be in the top 20 over hear..... obviously there are exceptions to be made(hedman).... let him play in the AHL for a year and see how good he is..... i hope whoever signs him, to a more then likely ridiculous contract gets the goalie they think he is, and not just the flashes of brilliance followed with mediocre play we have seen in brunnstrom.

June 3, 2009  09:15 AM ET

what has gustavsson proven...... bout as much as pogge..... can dominate a league that is far below the talent and speed levels of the nhl...

June 3, 2009  10:46 AM ET

Good thing Dallas has all the Swedes already, that would be sweet if we added this one too

June 3, 2009  10:59 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

what happened to the last Swedish phenom the stars signed.... when will scouts realize that the SEL is not as good as the OHL and that the number 1 player there would maybe be in the top 20 over hear..... obviously there are exceptions to be made(hedman).... let him play in the AHL for a year and see how good he is..... i hope whoever signs him, to a more then likely ridiculous contract gets the goalie they think he is, and not just the flashes of brilliance followed with mediocre play we have seen in brunnstrom.

Other then your Lame a*s*s prediction that your Stars were gonna steam roll the Wings last spring sportsfan583, you maybe actually correct on your prediction about Gustavsson's destination.

June 3, 2009  11:01 AM ET

actually, I meant to quote #2, sorry #3

June 3, 2009  11:16 AM ET

"who is regarded as the best goaltender not in the NHL"
So 30 teams, 2 goalies on each team, so that makes him ranked # 61! Oh yes by all means open the check book!

June 3, 2009  11:18 AM ET

Besides the best goalie not in the NHL is Tuukka Rask ... who the Leafs let go for nothing!

June 3, 2009  11:55 AM ET
QUOTE(#10):

Besides the best goalie not in the NHL is Tuukka Rask ... who the Leafs let go for nothing!

Where have you heard this?

If Rask was as good as you describe, would the B's have extended their 34 year-old goalie for another 3-4 years? Rask has done nothing as of yet. And to say that he will all of a sudden bloom into a bonafide starter is quite a jump.

As for Gustafsson, same thing applies. This guy has proven nothing yet. Until you play the best, you cannot be hyped all that much. This has more to do with media than truth. We will see who signs him and for how much. I know I wouldn't be breaking the bank for this dude.

June 3, 2009  12:45 PM ET

By the sounds of it, the leafs really need this guy. Their other prospects just haven't panned out. I was really sorry to see Nieuwendyk leave. He is a class act all the way. Dallas is lucky to have him, He is the only one in that organization with any class.

June 3, 2009  01:23 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

Other then your Lame a*s*s prediction that your Stars were gonna steam roll the Wings last spring sportsfan583, you maybe actually correct on your prediction about Gustavsson's destination.

What kind of fan doesn't predict their team will win on a trash-talk internet board? I'm a fan, not an independent analyst. Sorry to insult your superior intelligence there, Mr. Gretzky.

June 3, 2009  01:37 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

"who is regarded as the best goaltender not in the NHL" So 30 teams, 2 goalies on each team, so that makes him ranked # 61! Oh yes by all means open the check book!

FoosBall.........your posts (9, 10) have absolutely no logic. yes, the nhl is the most prestigious hockey league in the world, but just because the guy isnt in the nhl doesnt mean all 60 goalies who dress in the nhl are better than him. Are we 100% sure that Dan Ellis and Curtis Sanford are better goaltenders than Gustavsson? Are there 500 players in the NHL who are more talented than Jaromir Jagr???

Also, when we're discussing the best players in the world who aren't in the NHL, let's not use guys who are playing in the AHL (Tuukka Rask) as examples......they're not exactly available to whoever wants to go out and grab them.

June 3, 2009  02:23 PM ET

Have to love a Sens fan talking to us about GOALTENDING!!!! Ottawa is the NHL graveyard for good goalies! Gerber, how did that work out? Lalime? Emery? Shall I continue Mr. Tuggnutt??

Stick to what you know, Cup Finals to missing the playoffs.........

June 3, 2009  02:48 PM ET
QUOTE(#15):

Have to love a Sens fan talking to us about GOALTENDING!!!! Ottawa is the NHL graveyard for good goalies! Gerber, how did that work out? Lalime? Emery? Shall I continue Mr. Tuggnutt??Stick to what you know, Cup Finals to missing the playoffs.........

Don't be knocking Tugnutt...I think they should re-name the Vezina after him. What a great name for a goalie's trophy that would be!

June 3, 2009  02:52 PM ET
QUOTE:

I hope he signs in Toronto. I have read that he has visited Dallas and Colorado already. Perhaps, during his last visit he signs a contract with Toronto. If he came here, he would be the starter. Gone are Joseph, Gerber, Kolzig. Toskala is coming off an injury and Pogge is not proven anything yet.

Actually Pogge has proved something. He is not capable of playing in a hockey hotbed like Toronto and is now expendable.
This kid deserves a serious look and likely will be playing in the NHL at some level. I don't know if the Leafs will sign him over Dallas though...that said, didn't Dallas just state that they are cutting back spending on UFA's?
The Leafs seem more likely than Colorado...and after all...they did once have Salming...

June 3, 2009  02:55 PM ET
QUOTE(#15):

Have to love a Sens fan talking to us about GOALTENDING!!!! Ottawa is the NHL graveyard for good goalies! Gerber, how did that work out? Lalime? Emery? Shall I continue Mr. Tuggnutt??Stick to what you know, Cup Finals to missing the playoffs.........

Pretty harsh words t-man. Who is your team?

June 3, 2009  03:34 PM ET

not everybody wants to play in T.O.

June 3, 2009  07:44 PM ET
QUOTE(#19):

not everybody wants to play in T.O.

What??????????
You can't be serious.

 
June 4, 2009  09:11 AM ET

well t-man, maybe you can tell us who your team is and the last time they went to the finals.... my team having a few poor goaltenders over the last few seasons doesnt mean i have no knowledge of the sport..... i thought gerber was a horrible signing from the start..... but the sens have gotten good goaltending from lesser players like tugnut, prusek, rhodes and even emery came out of no where to lead them to a cup appearance. The way you talk its as if all leaf fans would have no knowledge of hockey because MLSE hired JFJ.
My point was that people are making these euro league stars out to be the next great one or marty brodeur based on their play in an inferior league and that like justin pogge gustavsson has proven nothing at the nhl level but is being hailed as the next great franchise savour, next time read the post for what it is and not with blind eyes because you dislike the team that the poster cheers for. And for your info, it was from cup finals to first round exit to missing the playoffs, if your gonna lip off at least get your facts straight!

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