Goalie For Sale

To impress Jonas Gustavsson, the Maple Leafs are going to have to do better than a president.

Thursday  night in Dallas, Gustavsson — otherwise known as The Monster —- was wined and dined by the Stars and the team's new GM, Joe Nieuwendyk. He threw out the first pitch at the Texas Rangers game in Arlington, had dinner with Dallas captain Brendan Morrow and even met former U.S. President George Bush at the ballgame.

Okay, we didn't say one of the best presidents. But a president nonetheless.

Gustavsson, projected as a potential No. 1 goalie in the NHL, met with Colorodo and San Jose earlier this week before going to Texas along with his Toronto-based agent, Joe Resnick. On Friday, he hits his lone Canadian stop in Toronto to meet with Leafs GM Brian Burke and the club's new goaltending coach, Francois Allaire.

Gustavsson already knows Burke well, having met with him several times in Europe this winter, and attended one of Allaire's goalie schools several years ago.

However, it appears unlikely Gustavsson will be making his decision before the NHL draft next weekend in Montreal. Instead, after his whirlwind four-city tour, he'll return to Sweden to consult with his girlfriend, and then probably make a decision in early July. For the Leafs, that means they'll have to make a decision on whether to make a qualifying offer to young netminder Justin Pogge before they know whether Gustavsson will be joining them. 

Dallas and the Leafs would seem to have the best shot at landing Gustavsson, although San Jose GM Doug Wilson brought out his entire staff to meet with the goaltender this week, and Gustavsson is friends with Sharks forward Joe Thornton.

Comments

[Reality Man]

So, how would meeting George W. Bush be considered impressive by a Swede? You do know that Sweden is a social democrat (e.g. our NDP) nation that is known for pacifism, social liberalism, secularism, environmentalism (Sweden has surpassed Kyoto targets) and for an incredibly generous cradle to the grave welfare system? And a Swede would be impressed by meeting a war-mongering, ultra-conservative, industrial revolution throwback capitalist, religious zealot who thinks that poor people have no right to health care, that God personally talks to him and encouraged him to invade Iraq? Probably not a well-thought out move considering that Bush is known for pretty much hating absolutely everything that Sweden stands for. Maybe introducing him to Obama would have impressed him but Gustavsson (right about now) is probably scouring his hand, that Bush shook, with bleach and making an appointment to have it blasted with radiation. If Toronto wants to duplicate Dallas' "coup", maybe they should get Don Cherry to be Gustavsson's tour guide and cultural ambassador to Toronto. Then they can hook up some orthodox Jews with some Hamas members ...

[Irfaan M]

Justin will be back. There is no question in my mind, Justin Pogge will be back. Brian Burke is playing hard to get, and understandably so. To eradicate a culture of entitlement in an organization, the leaders need to aggressively demonstrate zero-tolerance of sub-par performance. However, other than Justin Pogge, Toronto does not currently have any other prospects that could potentially serve as starting goaltenders in the NHL. None. Even if they do sign Gustavsson, that is still only one. Justin Pogge is the closest thing they have, and they need him. Unfortunately, if you tell Justin this, he feels that whether his GAA is 2.00 or 5.00 he will still get a contract. Hence, Brian Burke dangles him until the last second and makes it appear as though signing Pogge was a difficult decision right to the end (implying that another bad year and Justin is gone). The reality is: Burke, Wilson and Allaire unanimously agree that Justin has the potential to be a top 10 goaltender at the National level and are dedicated, at least for one more season, to do everything they can to get him there.
I would go so far as to guarantee that the next time Toronto plays a game in the second round of the NHL playoffs, Justin Pogge will be their starting goaltender.

JP29 4 LIFE.

[Guido]

Exactly Reality Man ...

Let's see what Jack Layton is doing this weekend -- I'm sure he's free for dinner.

Come on .. this is all bs .. The guy will go for 2 things:
1) Money
2) Playing Time
3) Atmosphere that's closest to home...

Toronto has the money, can promise at least a 50% chance at being #1 and is well known to very European like citywise.

[James]

If he's going to consult with his girlfriend I bet he'll end up in California. Be wealthy in California or Toronto, which do you prefer? I'd go Cali all the way.

[StarsRule]

Reality Man - Wow, tell us what you really think!!!

Damien, as for Jonas being friends with Joe Thornton, I thought it was Joe's brother that he knew through his agent. Maybe I'm off on that one but one of his best friends is Fabian Brunnstrom and he plays for the Stars. But, all the teams talking to him have lots of good things for him to consider. It is now up to him. Choose wisely my friend.

[Conn Smythe]

'Okay, we didn't say one of the best presidents.'

Wow...Tone down the anger, Reality Man.

[Dave in BG]

Hey Reality Man:

News flash. Damian did not say "George W Bush" he said "George Bush". That would be W's father. And you are right, the Leafs should introduce Gustavsson to Jack Layton. THAT will impress him for sure. LOL

[ray b]

Maybe meeting the ex prez is a bad thing..After all, the guy is a moron..If he can pitch maybe Riccardi should give him a call..The Jays need pitchers..

Why so much hype over a backup?..If he picks Dallas he will backup Turco for at least one year and if he signs in Toronto, he backs up Toskala..Colorado seems the best choice..He will have a chance to get a starting job..

But who knows if he is even good enough to play in the NHL..He didn't look so good against Canada in the finals this year..

[ostrich_lover]

oh man what a hilarious comment. Just what I was thinking. The Leafs will resign Pogge anyways, theyd be stupid not to. The kid has talent and if he finds his head he'll be an Nhl goalie.

[Rick Cottier]

What a peculiar comment. Is Gustavsson a big lefty? Is he politically oriented at all? I would think the oppurtunity to play would have more to do with his decision that who he meets in any particular town. Dallas has a goalie and so do the Sharks. Toskala has frequently looked like more of a break dancer than a puck stopper. So I think Gustav will get a good chance to play here.
Also, I wouldn't mind meeting Dubya. He was a poor president but he seems like he'd be a good time at a BBQ (or maybe I'm thinkin' of his Josh Broden movie double)

[Bold Bravado]

Ummm....Yeah, thought this was on sports "Reality Man". Really should leave the political grandstanding at the door!!

[mark]

Ray B.. agree with you. Way too much hype for a guy we're not even sure can play in the NHL? If the Leafs can sign him, o.k., if not... so what. I love the description 'Best Goalie Not Playing in the NHL'. According to whom? And again... so what. If this guy is half as good as the hype, we've got the second coming of Terry Sawchuk coming to town.

[Steve C.]

Dave in BG...it was 'W' he met. And believe it or not there are millions (billions?) of people who would never shake his hand...maybe Jonas WOULD prefer shaking Jack's hand, I would.

Anyway this Gustavsson guy is way too hyped up. Throwing out first pitches??!! That Texas crowd must've been scratching their heads, or yawning.

Geez, not another Swede making the hockey world hold their breath.

[rocco's jobbers]

signing a jonas brother??? no wonder leafs are horrible!

[Big J]

Pogge can't perform. We'd be better off with a bag of pucks sitting on front of the net.

[mario]

For a company with a ton of money can land a commodity without giving away any of its assets it is a win win situation. If this guy turns out to be a descent player we have won, if he turns out to suck, we still win all we gave up was money. If money is no object and a person buys a Ferrari and it turns out to be a lemon, oh well lets just go buy another one.

There is nothing to lose with signing this guy.... so I do not see the problem with it. Now if we were to trade up in the draft and give up a Kaberle for this guy and he turns out to be a lemon well now there is a problem. So Toronto fans stop worrying about money the leafs have lots of it.

MArio

[LOCKSTOCK93]

Mario...there's a salary cap. If he's worthless and they overpay, or if they overpay regardless, it's not a great move. Cap space is valuable.

That isn't a comment about the goaltender, i have no idea how good he is/will be.

[scott]

cap space is only for the roster players. I'll assume he wouldn't get a one way NHL contract. Naw the leafs wouldn't do that would they? yea they might.....

[Dave]

With or without the Swede, it only makes sense to make a qualifying offer to Justin. Corey Hirsh the former Leaf goalie coach is no longer there for a reason. He was at best a minor league goalie. Anyone who has half a brain would have realized that Toskala was over playing all shots, especially those that required him to move laterally or side to the other side of the net. This always left him out of position for the second shot. Best Goalie we have all seen in terms of angles and low use energy was Belfour. Never liked him until I truly saw what his gift was. Keep Justin, money isn't an issue with the Leafs, if the new goalie coach straightens out his game, Justin's Junior cridentials are worth maybe a second round draft pick at worst. Can you spell Tukka Rask? Thanks JFK Dave...Hey by the way has anyone seen Vinca, you know, the guy who claims he's an insider for the Leafs and knows all the in's and out's of Leafs moves for the draft? Dufus!!!