The Big Pitch

The Dallas Stars rolled out a former U.S. president. The Maple Leafs countered with hockey history.

LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR

Gustavsson landed in Toronto June 19 on a flight from Dallas.

That's was the punctuation mark with which Brian Burke made his passionate pitch to Jonas (The Monster) Gustavsson on the weekend, with the free agent Swedish goaltender now expected to make his selection of his first NHL team next weekend.

When Gustavsson walked into the home dressing room of the Air Canada Centre last Saturday, he was greeted by the jerseys of all the Leaf goaltenders over the years, from Johnny Bower to Turk Broda to Terry Sawchuk to Felix Potvin to Curtis Joseph with, of course, a No. 50 with the name "Gustavsson" occupying the final stall.

"That was a really nice touch," said Gustavsson's Toronto-based agent, Joe Resnick.

Gustavsson met with Burke, his right-hand man Dave Nonis, goaltending instructor Francois Allaire and head coach Ron Wilson on Saturday and toured both the ACC and the club's new practice facility on Kipling Ave. in south Etobicoke. Gustavsson also toured some local real estate and even saw a local nursing facility where his girlfriend of two years, a registered nurse who missed the trip because of a terrible fear of flying, may find employment.

Gustavsson then dined with Leaf forward John Mitchell on Saturday before meeting with Nonis and Jeff Jackson, another member of the Leaf front office team, for breakfast on Sunday, and then flying back to Sweden.

For the Leafs, learning of Gustavsson's intentions before July 1st would be enormously helpful as they try to make a decision on the future of young netminder Justin Pogge. The Leafs need to tender a qualifying offer to Pogge before July 1st, and it's possible they might not do that if Gustavsson signs.

The Stars, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks are all still in the mix.

"There's nothing we can do now," said Burke. "As a lawyer, all you want is a chance to make your case, and now its in the hands of the judge."

Comments

[Stephen Nichols]

Okay. So who cares !! I'm sick of hearing the Leafs latest scam for pubicity. Goodbye Leafs. Goodbye NHL. Take Bettman with you !! My loathing and contempt knows no bounds as I read your latest attempt, in a Phoenix courtroom to keep hockey away from the rest of Southern Ontario. The smell in Toronto is not the garbage piling up on the streets. It is centered around the ACC.

[Jason]

I'm curious why they chose John Mitchell to dine with him instead of a more illustrious active or retired Leaf (Salming,Gimlour,Joseph)? Maybe because both players are around the same age and Mitchell's recent minor league and NHL experience (I think I read somewhere that Gustavsson would be willing to start in the minors)?

[Guido]

I love Johnny and all .. but honestly is John Mitchell the best we could do?

[John Hunt]

Did they include Toskala's jersey in the lineup or put Gustavsson's before it? Just curious how they broached that topic with the next designated saviour of our team.

(BTW, has anyone heard how Toskala is doing this offseason?)

And why have Mitchell take him out to dinner instead of someone else on the team, like Mike Van Ryn?

[LOCKSTOCK93]

I would offer to put her on a luxury cruise for her trip to Canada. Bring her over in comfort and point out that most of the Leafs games are only a train ride away, while all the Western Conference options necessitate flying.

[LOCKSTOCK93]

Mitchell and Gustavsson share an agent.

[LT]

I still don't understand the relationship between the Monster signing and re-signing Pogge...Jonas will presumably back-up Toskala...Unless there is another 20-something goalie prospect that they want to groom in the AHL, why not re-sign Pogge and work with him....he's a young asset...perhaps a late bloomer? Goalies can take time.

[Jon Doe]

Watch an interview with John Mitchell, he's a very mature and well spoken individual. Hes also from Ontario and can give some insight into the city. Those reasons plus the fact they share an agent are probably why he chose John.

[Arthur Nichol]

I thought that Burke did an excellent job in making his pitch to the Monster. It is definitely a change in the right direction for the team. I haven't felt this way about the team since Fletcher traded for Gilmour et al in the early 90s.

[Manny]

looks like the leafs have lost faith in Pogge being the goalie of the future. Damien, hypothetically speaking, given the choice, who would you have rather kept: J. Pogge or T. Rask? At the time the leafs made the trade for Raycroft, both Pogge and Rask were considered the top goaltending prospect.