MELTZER: The 411 on Gus
Flyers contributor gives his take on the newest Flyer and his role on the blueline
A left-handed shooter who has played both the left and right side of his defense pairings but has primarily played right defense the last three years. He brings 221 games of NHL regular season experience and 15 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience to Philadelphia. Gustafsson is a very good power play quarterback with a reputation as a fine puck mover and up-ice threat when joining the rush.
"Very excited to join a great team like Philadelphia. It's going to be fun. It's always tough to come into this city and play against them. It's fun to be a part of them," he said during a video conference call with reporters.
Paired with two-time Norris Trophy and one-time Conn Smythe Trophy winning defenseman Duncan Keith with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018-19, Gustafsson racked up career highs with 17 goals and 60 points.
By frame of reference, Torey Krug's career highs are 14 goals (accomplished twice) and 59 points (2017-18), Kevin Shattenirk's highs are 14 goals (2015-16) and 60 points (2011-12), and even Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winning Victor Hedman's career goal high is 17 with two seasons of posting more than 60 points.
These gaudy stats were unsustainable in 2019-20 for "Gus". He produced a combined six goals and 29 points for Chicago (59 GP) and Calgary (7 GP) during the regular season and then chipped in four assists in 10 playoff games for the Flames in the Bubble in Edmonton.
Gustafsson questions the characterization of this past season as a disappointing year for him. The player, who by reputation is more effective with the puck then when he's defending, believes that he became a better overall player in 2019-20 than he was in posting his big 2018-19 offensive stats.
"I don't know if it's disappointing or not, but I think I played a better game as a whole, like 5-on-5 and the power play, than I did the year before. It didn't go out, point-wise, like I wanted," Gustafsson said.
"I think when I started to play with Duncan Keith two years ago, it was a lot of fun. He's such a guy to look forward to play with. He's one of the best defensemen out there in the league right now. It's been that for the past ten years too and winning three Stanley Cups. To play with him was a lot of fun. I learned a lot from him. He was talking to me and he can be a little tough on me. At the same time, I was learning a lot from him. I don't think I was not disappointed about last season, but it was a lot of learning experiences too, coming off one of the best seasons I've had. I think I can come back to that position, too. I think with the Philadelphia Flyers is my best option."
Gustafsson has set a goal of continuing to evolve as a two-way defenseman. He aims to shed the label of being a player who needs to be "sheltered" solely into advantageous matchups. Over the course of his career, Gustafsson has a high concentration of offensive-zone starts at 5-on-5 (58.6 percent overall, and roughly 56 percent in 2019-20), which is often the case for offensive-minded defensemen.
Despite not regularly killing penalties or playing on the top pairing, which often entails seeing the toughest defensive matchups and starting half or more of even-strength shifts in the defensive zone, Gustafsson has typically racked a lot of five-on-five and power play ice time. In each of the last two seasons, he's averaged north of 20 minutes of ice time per game.
"I'm an offensive guy. I like to join the rush and play the power play. What I have to learn and be better at is my defensive part of my game. I think I have taken a step over the last year. I think I have taken a step even when I was with Calgary and in the playoffs. If I can come in and play like I did last couple games in the playoffs, it's going to be a fun season for me and the team. I'm going to do everything I can to help the team win," Gustafsson said.
The new acquisition is versatile enough to play either side of a defense pairing. However, because the vast majority of his NHL career has been spent on right defense, the right side is where he is currently more at home.
"I think I was playing on the left side a couple games with Calgary, but it didn't feel right. Right now, I'm used to playing on the right side, but at the same time, the left side is easier for me because I'm left-handed. I feel more confidence on the right side. Whatever the coaches' want me to do, I'll play there. I feel more confident on the right side. I've been feeling more confidence since when I started to do it three years ago," Gustafsson said.
As an unrestricted free agent next summer, Gustafsson would not have to be protected in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. A native of Nynäshamn, Sweden, Gustafsson is not to be confused with a Flyers defenseman of the same name who played for the team in the early to mid 2010s.
