Once upon a time, Jonas Gustavsson went by the nickname the monster and was the best goaltender not in the NHL. After stints in multiple NHL cities, Gustavsson is now a veteran and will again be searching for work this summer. While he never emerged as a starter in this league, he has proven to be a good veteran backup.
The Edmonton Oilers will be looking for exactly that this summer, and could contact the 31 year old Swede to help out in net for the 2016-17 NHL season.
Why Is He Out There?:
The Boston Bruins obviously will be rolling with Tuukka Rask as their starting goaltender next season, but the system beyond that has many questions. Malcolm Subban is supposed to be the goalie of the future, but he isn’t nearly ready for the NHL. He struggled mightily in the AHL last season and suffered a massive injury. Zane McIntyre also factors into Boston’s future plans in net.
As for the upcoming season, The Boston Globe’s Fluto Shinzawa hinted back on April 9th that Boston might go in a different direction and try to upgrade it’s backup spot this summer. He suggested a UFA like Jhonas Enroth being a solution in that spot.
Considering Gustavsson was lit up in Boston’s season ending stinker that cost them a playoff spot, it’s quite possible that he is allowed to walk as a UFA.
What Does He Do Well?:
The Hockey News does an excellent job of breaking down every NHL’ers strengths and weaknesses. The following is what they wrote about Gustavsson, while the full report is here.
Assets: Nicknamed ‘The Monster’, he has a huge frame that, combined with his butterfly style, really fills up most of the net. Has great flexibility and athleticism for a big guy. Flaws: Is significantly injury-prone. Will sometimes go down in the butterfly too quickly. Also needs work on limiting rebounds. Must also improve his stamina. Can look a bit nervous at times. Career Potential: Mammoth, quality backup goaltender, when healthy.
Gustavsson, by my eye, showed well this season in Boston. He posted a .908 SV% in 24 appearances and played well down the stretch, never dipping below his .908 mark in a single start in February, March or April. While 2014-15 was an injury filled year, he still managed a .911 SV% in seven games with the Red Wings.
2013-14 saw him post a .907 mark in 27 tilts (Detroit). Gustavsson’s most work came back in 2009-10 and 2011-12 when he played in 42 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs (.902 SV% in each season).
Gustavsson has always been a backup at this level and always has been a consistent .900-.910 goalie during his NHL career. To me, that signifies a low-level backup.
One thing that concerns me a little? He was below average on playoff teams in Detroit and Boston. They aren’t world beaters anymore, but both are certainly better than the Oilers.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play?:
Obviously, Jonas Gustavsson is a backup goaltender (or even number three) at the NHL level. In Edmonton, he would play that exact role, he simply is not better than Cam Talbot. In fact, there is a chance that Laurent Brossoit could beat him out in camp and Gustavsson would start in the AHL. Slim, but possible.
I’d peg this player for around 25-30 games this season, which is the perfect amount. That still leaves Cam Talbot with around 55 starts in 2016-17. That’s a heavy workload in today’s NHL.
What Will He Cost?:
The Bruins invited Gustavsson to training camp last fall and rewarded him after the preseason. He didn’t exactly light the world on fire, so I can’t see him commanding any sort of big contract. Most likely, he’ll be playing next season on another one-year deal.
As for the AAV, Gustavsson made $700,000 in 2015-16. I’d bet his next contract comes in around the $850,000 mark. That’s real value out of the backup spot in today’s NHL.
Closing Argument:
Peter Chiarelli likely won’t want to spend a ton of money on a backup goaltender this summer, and understandably so. If he is looking for a cheap option who can play at both the AHL and NHL level while providing cover for Brossoit, then this might be a place to look. Gustavsson has proven he can handle the backup duties and he won’t be a burden on your cap.
Should the Oilers strike out on more appealing options, I can see them circling back later in the summer and signing this player.
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