Swedish teen opening eyes at Jets camp

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This article was published 26/09/2019 (2174 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

David Gustafsson is making a heck of a first impression with the Winnipeg Jets.

The 19-year-old Swedish centre not only survived the first wave of cuts this week, but was also given another look in game action Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers. He’s definitely opened some eyes around here — including his own.

“This is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. And I love to play hockey, so it’s good to still be here,” a beaming Gustafsson said following the morning skate. “I didn’t have many expectations at all. I just came here and said I would do my best and I would have fun doing it. So it’s going much better than I thought it would.”

Gustafsson, selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2018 NHL draft, centred a line with Nikolaj Ehlers and Mathieu Perreault against the Oilers Thursday night at Bell MTS Place. It was his fourth pre-season game.

“Great player. He’s very smart, a very smart player. Can play both ways. Has the skill and he’s fast, too,” was the scouting report offered up by Ehlers.

Being put in such a plum offensive spot this late into the exhibition schedule tells you how impressed Jets head coach Paul Maurice and the organization are with his first training camp.

“He just does too many right things for you not to notice. He’s still a young man and I know that he’s got lots of time to develop. But there’s a real value in somebody like that being here for more days,” Maurice said.

Gustafsson is under contract to play one more year in the top Swedish men’s league and is also expected to represent his country at the world junior championship. But he’s clearly done enough to warrant a longer look.

“I don’t know where it’s going to end for him or what time it is, because I do know he’s got to go back when that time comes. But every video session, every practice, this guy picks it up. You just see it in his game,” Maurice said.

“So, for those guys, there’s a real value. Some guys, you know you’ve got to get back to their junior team and they’ve got years ahead of them. This guy’s had a really, really nice camp and we want to keep him around as long as it makes sense for everybody.”

Veteran centre Mark Letestu, who signed a free-agent deal with the Jets this summer, said Gustafsson appears to be wise beyond his years when it comes to his on-ice play.

“I guess I’ve had kind of a unique perspective. I really don’t know anybody coming in here, so it’s been kind of a clean slate coming in for me. With Gus, I notice how hard he competes, especially in the circle, whether it’s faceoffs, paying attention to some of the details,” Letestu said.

“He’s hobbling around here because he’s getting in lanes. He’s doing the necessary things to be noticed. That’s a credit to him. If you told me his birth year, I’m not even really sure. But I’m assuming a young guy, a lot of maturity and details in his game.”

Letestu is considered the likely candidate to win the fourth-line centre job with the Jets behind Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Bryan Little, but Gustafsson is certainly “in the mix,” according to Maurice.

The same goes for CJ Suess, who has had a strong camp and was given another game on Thursday.

“I try not to think too much into it. Obviously it’s on the back of your mind. But you’ve kind of got to let that disappear when you’re playing in the game and just stick to what you’ve been doing,” Suess said.

“It’s definitely a boost of confidence (to still be here). But I’ve just got to keep going. Nothing’s given here. You’ve got to work for it.”

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There was plenty of excitement around the rink once word spread that Connor McDavid was making the trip to Winnipeg for a rare pre-season road game.

“It’s a cool experience. You always dream of playing the best, and that’s what I’m here to do. So I look forward to it,” Suess said.

“Connor McDavid is a player that I always looked up to. He’s the greatest player in the world. So it’s going to be cool to play against him,” Gustafsson said.

Even an experienced pro like Letestu was looking forward to the challenge, saying it’s the best way to prepare for the coming season.

“I don’t want to play against the skeleton crew. I want to play against NHL lineups. I want to be out there against the guys I need to get ready to compete against when it turns to (opening night next Thursday against the) Rangers. So the heavier, more NHL-veteran lineups at this point in pre-season, it’s probably better for us,” Letestu said.

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Josh Morrissey, Adam Lowry and Bryan Little were held out of Thursday’s game but were full participants in a group skate earlier in the day. That’s good news considered they’re all battling minor injuries. Defenceman Sami Niku skated on his own for the first time in a few days as he deals with a groin injury.

Maurice said the hope is to play the opening-night roster in the final pre-season game Sunday afternoon in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild, with Niku being the lone exception.

“We’re talking about a guy who’s had two full days of training camp. He’s missed an awful lot. It’s a groin. You can’t condition an athlete like that the same way. So we’ll have to see how he’s skating,” Maurice said of Niku’s status.

The Jets have 32 players in camp and will have to get down to a 23-man maximum roster by early next week.

“The big questions are really how we round out the fourth line… and maybe the pairings of the D because of Niku’s injury and how we pair those guys together,” Maurice said.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg