David Gustafsson returns to Sweden’s World Junior team after having played 22 NHL games this season with the Winnipeg Jets.
photo: Minas Panagiotakis / HHOF-IIHF Images
In Sweden’s last two pre-tournament games before the start of the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, the top line was an interesting combination of skilled, speedy wingers Samuel Fagemo and Nils Hoglander with big, physical NHLer David Gustafsson in the middle. On the stats sheet, Gustafsson wasn’t credited with any points in the two games despite being on the ice for several goals and being a strong presence in all three zones.
“They’re two speedy guys, they win a lot of pucks and they’re very skilled players, so I like to play with them,” Gustafsson said of his wingers. “I try to be the third man high and take care of the defensive responsibilities. In the offensive zone, just turn them loose and let them do what they want with the puck. I’ll be in front of the net looking for some easy goals,” he laughed.
“David is a big, strong, smart centreman and a great player and Nils is a skilled, fast guy,” said Fagemo, a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings. “I think we have good chemistry.”
“He’s not a flashy offensive guy, but he’s a solid centre,” Swedish head coach Tomas Monten said of Gustafsson. “He’s strong on faceoffs, he’s strong on the puck, he helps his wingers to be able to play with speed by giving them the puck and creating room for them.”
Gustafsson, 19, is one of seven returning players from last year’s Swedish team, but the only one who is playing full time in the NHL right now. For the Winnipeg Jets rookie who has one goal in 22 games, this is a chance to play some big roles.
“He was with us last year and he’s an important guy for us, so we’re very happy that they released him, for the team and for David himself,” said Monten. “He’s going to log big minutes. We wanted to start him off slow but he’s a workhorse and he can log big minutes, carry the first line, play the PK and be a leader on the ice. I think that’s the main reason Winnipeg sent him here and we’re happy to have him.”
On Gustafsson – Winnipeg’s second-round pick in 2018 – going to the NHL this season, Monten said: “We didn’t expect that to happen, but they liked what they saw in Plymouth (at the World Junior Showcase) and he managed to break though.”
“I was happy when I got the news,” Gustafsson said about being told he was going back to the World Juniors. “It’s a special feeling, wearing the Swedish national team’s jersey. It’s a fun group of guys too. It’s fun to see them again.”
He added: “It’s a good opportunity to get some more ice time. It’s also nice to come back and try to finish better this year (than last) and show the people back home that we’re a good team.”
“They’re two speedy guys, they win a lot of pucks and they’re very skilled players, so I like to play with them,” Gustafsson said of his wingers. “I try to be the third man high and take care of the defensive responsibilities. In the offensive zone, just turn them loose and let them do what they want with the puck. I’ll be in front of the net looking for some easy goals,” he laughed.
“David is a big, strong, smart centreman and a great player and Nils is a skilled, fast guy,” said Fagemo, a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings. “I think we have good chemistry.”
“He’s not a flashy offensive guy, but he’s a solid centre,” Swedish head coach Tomas Monten said of Gustafsson. “He’s strong on faceoffs, he’s strong on the puck, he helps his wingers to be able to play with speed by giving them the puck and creating room for them.”
Gustafsson, 19, is one of seven returning players from last year’s Swedish team, but the only one who is playing full time in the NHL right now. For the Winnipeg Jets rookie who has one goal in 22 games, this is a chance to play some big roles.
“He was with us last year and he’s an important guy for us, so we’re very happy that they released him, for the team and for David himself,” said Monten. “He’s going to log big minutes. We wanted to start him off slow but he’s a workhorse and he can log big minutes, carry the first line, play the PK and be a leader on the ice. I think that’s the main reason Winnipeg sent him here and we’re happy to have him.”
On Gustafsson – Winnipeg’s second-round pick in 2018 – going to the NHL this season, Monten said: “We didn’t expect that to happen, but they liked what they saw in Plymouth (at the World Junior Showcase) and he managed to break though.”
“I was happy when I got the news,” Gustafsson said about being told he was going back to the World Juniors. “It’s a special feeling, wearing the Swedish national team’s jersey. It’s a fun group of guys too. It’s fun to see them again.”
He added: “It’s a good opportunity to get some more ice time. It’s also nice to come back and try to finish better this year (than last) and show the people back home that we’re a good team.”
Ah yes, last year. Gustafsson was a member of the Swedish team that extended its winning streak in the group stage of the World Juniors to 48 games only to lose to Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Gustafsson had three assists in five games and he hopes to play a bigger role with the team this year.
“I’ve learned a lot of things over there,” he said of the last few months in the NHL environment. “All the small things, you know. Making quick decisions with the puck, winning battles for pucks in the corners, and a lot of faceoff things too.
“A lot of the things I’ve learned there I can apply here. I can take some more responsibility than I did last year. Everything I’ve learned there I try to teach to the young guys here and be as helpful as I can.”
Last year, Gustafsson was a first-year pro in the Swedish Hockey League with HV71 Jonkoping. Obviously, there were a lot of adjustments he had to make playing in North America, and now coming back to Europe for this tournament is a transition again. Aside from just the rink size, he’s played very little junior hockey over the past season and a half.
“It’s good that I’ve had two games here to get into it because it’s a big difference, of course,” said Gustafsson. “This is really fun hockey to play. I kinda miss it sometimes when I’m playing with the men’s teams.”
On where his team’s at now heading into the start of the tournament, he said: “I think we’re in a good spot. We’ve still got a lot to learn as all teams do during the group stage, but I definitely feel like we’re in a good spot right now.”
The Swedes start off with a big one, against arch-rival and defending champion Finland on 26 December in Trinec. After them comes games against Switzerland, Kazakhstan and Slovakia. While the Swedes could benefit from teams like Russia, Canada and the USA beating up on each other in a tough Group A, Gustafsson knows that they can’t overlook their Group B competitors.
“The other group is really strong, but then again we can’t get too comfortable in our group because there are some good teams too,” he acknowledged. “Switzerland is in it and we know how that went last year and Finland won the tournament last year, so we just have to play our best and try to get a good spot for the playoffs.”
As much as he’s here to help Sweden, another go-around at the World Juniors can help Gustafsson with some areas of his game that can benefit him when he returns to Winnipeg.
“I’d like to be more comfortable with the puck,” he said. “That would be good to take that back to Winnipeg. And of course, it would be nice to bring a gold medal home.”
“I’ve learned a lot of things over there,” he said of the last few months in the NHL environment. “All the small things, you know. Making quick decisions with the puck, winning battles for pucks in the corners, and a lot of faceoff things too.
“A lot of the things I’ve learned there I can apply here. I can take some more responsibility than I did last year. Everything I’ve learned there I try to teach to the young guys here and be as helpful as I can.”
Last year, Gustafsson was a first-year pro in the Swedish Hockey League with HV71 Jonkoping. Obviously, there were a lot of adjustments he had to make playing in North America, and now coming back to Europe for this tournament is a transition again. Aside from just the rink size, he’s played very little junior hockey over the past season and a half.
“It’s good that I’ve had two games here to get into it because it’s a big difference, of course,” said Gustafsson. “This is really fun hockey to play. I kinda miss it sometimes when I’m playing with the men’s teams.”
On where his team’s at now heading into the start of the tournament, he said: “I think we’re in a good spot. We’ve still got a lot to learn as all teams do during the group stage, but I definitely feel like we’re in a good spot right now.”
The Swedes start off with a big one, against arch-rival and defending champion Finland on 26 December in Trinec. After them comes games against Switzerland, Kazakhstan and Slovakia. While the Swedes could benefit from teams like Russia, Canada and the USA beating up on each other in a tough Group A, Gustafsson knows that they can’t overlook their Group B competitors.
“The other group is really strong, but then again we can’t get too comfortable in our group because there are some good teams too,” he acknowledged. “Switzerland is in it and we know how that went last year and Finland won the tournament last year, so we just have to play our best and try to get a good spot for the playoffs.”
As much as he’s here to help Sweden, another go-around at the World Juniors can help Gustafsson with some areas of his game that can benefit him when he returns to Winnipeg.
“I’d like to be more comfortable with the puck,” he said. “That would be good to take that back to Winnipeg. And of course, it would be nice to bring a gold medal home.”