"Yeah, I guess so.
"All the other guys were pretty mad because there was another Swede coming in," he laughed.
Gustafsson, who was acquired in a deadline-day trade that sent a third-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks, is already finding comfort in his new surroundings.
Because of his fellow countrymen, the transition is that much easier.
"It's always tough to coming into a new team," Gustafsson said. "You're the new guy, right? But I've played with or against these guys for a couple years now, and they're all great guys.
"They've already talked about the atmosphere in the rink. I've played there a bunch of times and the crowd is really good, very passionate.
"It's going to be fun to play for a Canadian team."
Gustafsson and fellow newcomer Derek Forbort will both be in the lineup tonight as the Flames continue a five-game road trip with a stop in Boston to face the league-leading Bruins for the second time in five days.
As it happens, they'll both be paired together, too, with Gustafsson getting some gravy time on the top powerplay unit - a spot he's become quite familiar with, as the top quarterback with the Blackhawks over the past two years.
Last season, the 27-year-old had a career campaign, finishing sixth among D men with 60 points (17G, 43A), three game-winning strikes, and an average of 22:35 in ice time.
He also has 31 career powerplay points in only 214 games.
"It's going to be fun lining up on the blueline (in that situation)," Gustafsson said. "We have the skill, we have the shooting mentality, and we have guys in front of the net. What I'll do is try to get the puck to guys on the flanks, try to get the puck to the net and good stuff will happen."
The addition adds a new wrinkle to the Flames' offence, and certainly gives the coach options when it comes to managing ice time.
With Gustafsson taking over on the top unit, Mark Giordano - should he return this evening - can have his minutes dialled back and assume that same role with the second array.
"He's got great deception - you can see it right away, the way he moves across the top of the blueline," interim head coach Geoff Ward said of the D man. "The top player on the powerplay is huge in terms of what he can do, because he often sets up the flankers. He'll manipulate the penalty-kill into one side or create an opening the flankers can exploit. The fact that he sets it up so easily up top there is a huge addition for us.
"You can see right away in the first couple reps how easily he moves along the blue line and the command that he has in order to move the penalty-killing forwards."