If you were a hockey fan in the summer of 2009, you may remember that one of the biggest stories was which NHL organization would get a chance to sign “The Monster.” Jonas Gustavsson, a 6’4″ Swedish goaltender that had just absolutely dominated in the Elite League—posting a .932 save percentage in the regular season and a .961 in the playoffs en route to a league title—was being hotly pursued by several NHL teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, and Colorado Avalanche. Given he was just 24 and would be signing an entry-level deal, Gustavsson was truly one of the most high profile free agents available.
He would eventually sign a one-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs to become the backup for Vesa Toskala. While he wouldn’t have the impact that many expected after his overseas dominance, Gustavsson still played in 181 NHL games over parts of eight seasons, including two playoff appearances for the Detroit Red Wings in 2014. He returned to Sweden in 2017 and now has decided to hang up his skates. Gustavsson announced his retirement today, thanking his teammates and the fans that have supported him through the years.
Now, with years to reflect on it, the massive goaltender stands as a cautionary tale for those projecting greatness onto overseas talents. He would never come close to matching his SEL numbers on North American ice, even if he did still carve out a decent little NHL career.
Perhaps more notable than his numbers in either league, is the silver medal he won in 2014 as a member of Sweden’s Olympic team. Of course, he didn’t actually see the ice at the tournament as Henrik Lundqvist played every minute of competition for the Swedes.
Full pension.
When did he play for the sharks? I don’t recall
He didn’t, article says pursued by