Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gustafsson Signs With Avangard Omsk

Wish him well. He was never given a real chance at playing in Philly. Can't have guy's looking over their shoulders every period.

Gus passes my eye test, and I think he'll be back in the NHL at some point as a decent d-man. Botched "development" on the Flyers' part here IMO. Having a guy on a short leash like Gus always was isn't putting him in a position to potentially succeed. Maybe not the right player for their "mix", but he'll be good enough for someone else's down the road

Wish him well. He was never given a real chance at playing in Philly. Can't have guy's looking over their shoulders every period.
- twpguy

Sums up my awkwardly worded thoughts better than I could

I can't really get upset. You can't make the "looking over the shoulder" comment in pro sports because they all are looking. There is always someone coming up. Gus did have a chance in camp after a good world tournament but didn't do anything special. At his size he must either bring a good amount of offense or be able to win more battles then he loses and he just didn't do it. He is a NHL dman just not top 6. Nothing worng with that. But 7th dman can be had for cheaper and found other places.

Best wishes Gus. A good move for him and his development and probably better financially. I think he saw the writing on the wall in Philly and it was time to move on. With the current D and good prospects ( Ghost, Morin, Hagg) he would probably be on the way out sooner than later. Should have played game 5 instead of Gill. #BerubeBrainFart.

Im not sure i like the 'not good enough training camp' argument. The whole team, except Mason, should've been benched in that case.

I, too, wish him well -- sometimes, a player needs to do what's best for him, when he has the ability to move elsewhere.

I wish Gus had gotten 30 straight games to sink or swim in Philadelphia, but since it didn't happen, I hope he is able to return to the NHL if he wishes and there is a role for him.

More importantly: I sure as hell hope the Flyers use that roster spot well.

Not surprising at all, he wasn't going to get a real chance here, and I disagree that he's a 7th defenseman at best. He's not a top 4 guy, but he's a capable third pair guy.

He does have limitations. He's small and not especially strong. Despite being good with the puck he can be knocked off it relatively easily at times.

The problem I have with the scouts analysis is, looking at the Flyers defense, especially pre-MacDonald, he wouldn't have been a bad choice to play. I felt that then, and I feel that way now.

Gustafsson is yet another one way player, but too often one dimensional guys like Grossmann stay in the line up at the expense of one dimensional guys like Gustafsson because of some antiquated idea of toughness or grit.

A lot of Flyers fans clamored for Gustafsson to get more of a shot because the Flyers lacked his skill set, not because they felt he was a future star.

Gus passes my eye test, and I think he'll be back in the NHL at some point as a decent d-man. Botched "development" on the Flyers' part here IMO. Having a guy on a short leash like Gus always was isn't putting him in a position to potentially succeed. Maybe not the right player for their "mix", but he'll be good enough for someone else's down the road
- eayost

I think he will be back and I would have liked to see him get more of a chance. I think 30 games was the most he ever played in a season.

Happy trails Gus. Good luck in the khl

I'm ok with this. I defended him more last year, I was really surprised he couldn't nail down a 3rd pairing role this year. I thought he was given an opportunity by the flyers, don't really see this as a botched development. He has a tough time getting his shots through, defensively he has a good stick but just doesn't use the bit of strength that he has to the fullest. A good guy

Not surprising at all, he wasn't going to get a real chance here, and I disagree that he's a 7th defenseman at best. He's not a top 4 guy, but he's a capable third pair guy.

He does have limitations. He's small and not especially strong. Despite being good with the puck he can be knocked off it relatively easily at times.

The problem I have with the scouts analysis is, looking at the Flyers defense, especially pre-MacDonald, he wouldn't have been a bad choice to play. I felt that then, and I feel that way now.

Gustafsson is yet another one way player, but too often one dimensional guys like Grossmann stay in the line up at the expense of one dimensional guys like Gustafsson because of some antiquated idea of toughness or grit.

A lot of Flyers fans clamored for Gustafsson to get more of a shot because the Flyers lacked his skill set, not because they felt he was a future star.
- Jsaquella

Plus we will retain his rights, so if he shows noticeable improvement over there and decides to come back, we get first crack at him.

Not surprising at all, he wasn't going to get a real chance here, and I disagree that he's a 7th defenseman at best. He's not a top 4 guy, but he's a capable third pair guy.

He does have limitations. He's small and not especially strong. Despite being good with the puck he can be knocked off it relatively easily at times.

The problem I have with the scouts analysis is, looking at the Flyers defense, especially pre-MacDonald, he wouldn't have been a bad choice to play. I felt that then, and I feel that way now.

Gustafsson is yet another one way player, but too often one dimensional guys like Grossmann stay in the line up at the expense of one dimensional guys like Gustafsson because of some antiquated idea of toughness or grit.

A lot of Flyers fans clamored for Gustafsson to get more of a shot because the Flyers lacked his skill set, not because they felt he was a future star.
- Jsaquella

I agree, I never thought he would be a star. The team needed better puck movement from the back end especially against Rangers and I thought Gil was a bad choice at that time and Gus did well when he played. He never had a chance to settle in with one Defensive partner to really see what he could do

At least he did this before he left.

I agree, I never thought he would be a star. The team needed better puck movement from the back end especially against Rangers and I thought Gil was a bad choice at that time and Gus did well when he played. He never had a chance to settle in with one Defensive partner to really see what he could do
- 3flyerkids

Exactly how I felt -- it was the same with Akeson. You just want players to get a chance. I'm not putting anybody into the Hall of Fame, but I don't think 30 games where a guy doesn't have to head straight to the healthy scratch house is too much to ask.

That's not a shot at Gill or Meszaros or anybody else. It's just that at some point, what's the harm in giving a guy -- a 25-year-old mobile defenseman -- who has done everything he could at the minor-league level a legitimate chance?

Scouts aren't always right. They're not. In any sport. If they were always right, Jason Bonsignore would be heading to the Hall of Fame.

I agree, I never thought he would be a star. The team needed better puck movement from the back end especially against Rangers and I thought Gil was a bad choice at that time and Gus did well when he played. He never had a chance to settle in with one Defensive partner to really see what he could do
- 3flyerkids

I think I saw enough of him in the offensive zone. It's not really a partner thing IMO, but what the scouts say makes sense. He just doesn't bring enough offensively, he had a horrible time getting his shot throug and it never improved. Yes he can move the puck some, but he's not dynamic enough to make up for his other glaring deficiencies

I think I saw enough of him in the offensive zone. It's not really a partner thing IMO, but what the scouts say makes sense. He just doesn't bring enough offensively, he had a horrible time getting his shot throug and it never improved. Yes he can move the puck some, but he's not dynamic enough to make up for his other glaring deficiencies
- Just5

I agree. I don't understand all the love for Gus. He was ok but not something I will lose sleep over. I think we have to stop overvalueing players. This getting a shot thing is ld because he had plenty of times to show something. And you have to look at what scouts say because they know what they are talking about. Gus needed to be more dynamic like Krug or Enstrom or even Dan Boyle.

At least he did this before he left.


- Feanor

Still can't believe CSP didn't come out to challenge that

Good luck, Gus.

I think I saw enough of him in the offensive zone. It's not really a partner thing IMO, but what the scouts say makes sense. He just doesn't bring enough offensively, he had a horrible time getting his shot throug and it never improved. Yes he can move the puck some, but he's not dynamic enough to make up for his other glaring deficiencies
- Just5

He did have 10 points and was a + 7 in only 30 games. And that was playing as a third pairing . He is no star, but I would have just liked to have seen him play on a more consistent level with a steady partner.
He could be a Seindenberg....( just a little smaller)

Always sucks to lose a young defenseman even if he's only a depth defenseman. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gus back in the nhl with another club in a few years.

He really struggled to seize the moment at the beginning of the season. He would either struggle or be injured. I would have liked to see the flyers stick with him for a while before sitting him in favor of Mez who was more porous defensively anyway.

Good luck to Gus and I hope he finds a home to enjoy a hockey career

I agree. I don't understand all the love for Gus. He was ok but not something I will lose sleep over. I think we have to stop overvalueing players. This getting a shot thing is ld because he had plenty of times to show something. And you have to look at what scouts say because they know what they are talking about. Gus needed to be more dynamic like Krug or Enstrom or even Dan Boyle.
- J35Bacher

Scouts told the Montreal Canadiens to draft David Fischer two spots ahead of Claude Giroux.

Scouts made it so Dan Boyle was never drafted and was traded by the Florida Panthers to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fifth-round pick

Scouts don't always know what they're talking about

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gustafsson Signs With Avangard Omsk
- bmeltzer

Meh, no big loss and good luck to him.

I can't really get upset. You can't make the "looking over the shoulder" comment in pro sports because they all are looking. There is always someone coming up. Gus did have a chance in camp after a good world tournament but didn't do anything special. At his size he must either bring a good amount of offense or be able to win more battles then he loses and he just didn't do it. He is a NHL dman just not top 6. Nothing worng with that. But 7th dman can be had for cheaper and found other places.
- J35Bacher

Exactly, well put.

As you said, at the pro level you are ALWAYS playing for your job. If you can't take that pressure, tough.

Not surprising at all, he wasn't going to get a real chance here, and I disagree that he's a 7th defenseman at best. He's not a top 4 guy, but he's a capable third pair guy.

He does have limitations. He's small and not especially strong. Despite being good with the puck he can be knocked off it relatively easily at times.

The problem I have with the scouts analysis is, looking at the Flyers defense, especially pre-MacDonald, he wouldn't have been a bad choice to play. I felt that then, and I feel that way now.

Gustafsson is yet another one way player, but too often one dimensional guys like Grossmann stay in the line up at the expense of one dimensional guys like Gustafsson because of some antiquated idea of toughness or grit.


A lot of Flyers fans clamored for Gustafsson to get more of a shot because the Flyers lacked his skill set, not because they felt he was a future star.
- Jsaquella

He never really impressed me that much. His offensive skills were ok, but nowhere near the level of Timonen or Streit and defensively he was mediocre.