Johan Gustafsson
Image: Holly Gunning/HF

Johan Gustafsson

Hometown:

Koping Sweden

Team:

Minnesota Wild

Currently Playing In:

Europe

Birthday:

1992-02-28
Position:

G
Eligible for draft:

2010
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2010
Height:

6-2
Acquired:

6th round (159th overall), 2010
Weight:

207 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
7.0

About Prospect Talent Score and Probability of Success»

Probability of Success
  • C

History

2008-09: Played for Farkestad in the J18 Elite and Allsvenskan brackets.  In games for the Elite team, Gustafsson registered a 1.94 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.  In 14 games of Allsvenskan play, Gustafsson finished with a 1.63 goal-against average and a .936 save percentage.  Gustafsson was named to Sweden's Under-18 WJC squad.  He played in 2 games in that tournament, registering a 1.00 goals-against average and a .964 save percentage.

2009-10: Gustafsson played most of his games for Skare BK in Division I, posting a 2.86 GAA and 1.84 save percentage in 26 games. At the U-18 World Championships, he posted a 2.02 GAA and .918 save percentage in 4 tournament games.

2010-11: Gustafsson played for Vasteras in Sweden's Allsvenskan (second league); sharing the starting duties with veteran Daniel Sperrle Jonsson. Gustafsson had a 2.30 GAA and .911 save percentage with two shutouts in 26 games for fifth-place Vasteras. He appeared in two of six post season games in the pre-Kvalserien tournament and was 1-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .867 save percentage. He also skated in seven games for Vasteras' U20 team and had a 2.83 GAA and .913 save percentage.

2011-12: Gustafsson shared the goaltending duties for Swedish Elitserien regular season champion Lulea with veteran David Rautio and was in net for gold medal-winning Sweden at the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship. Gustafsson had six shutouts and finished with a 1.68 goals against and .932 save percentage in 29 games. Lulea was upset by AIK in the quarterfinals of the Elitserien playoffs; four games to one. Gustafsson had Lulea's only win in the opening game of the series and was 1-2 with a 3.36 goals against and .884 save percentage in three playoff games. Playing in five games for Sweden, he was a perfect 5-0, including  a 17-save shutout in the gold medal game against Russia. He had a 2.20 goals against and .888 save percentage in the tournament. Gustafsson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Minnesota in May 2012.

 

Talent Analysis

Gustafsson is a solid technical keeper, with good size. He's still working on some of the finer points of his game, but reads the play well.

 

Future

Playing his first season as Luleå's starter in the Swedish Elite League, Gustafsson has been good. He had a memorable shutout of Team Russia to win Sweden's first gold medal at the World Junior since 1981. The Wild can let Gustafsson work on his game in Sweden for another season at least, but he seems on track to play pro hockey in North America one day.

 

Matt Dumba adds even more firepower to impressive group of Minnesota Wild prospects

by Peter Prohaska
on

Mikael Granlund - Team Finland U20

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by Peter Prohaska
on

Photo: Forward Johan Larsson was impressive this season for Brynas IF Gavle, managing 36 points in 49 games. (Vincent Muzik/Icon SMI)

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by Peter Prohaska
on
Photo: Matt Hackett has gradually over the past year to become one of the top goaltending prospects in all of hockey. (Photo courtesy of

Russell Lansford/Icon SMI)

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Most Improved Prospect: Johan Gustafsson, G, Luleå HF (SEL)
Read more»

Minnesota Wild boast talented group of European and collegiate prospects

by Peter Prohaska
on
Photo: The 10th overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft, Jonas Brodin is among the many talented young players the Wild have drafted out of Europe. (Photo courtesy of Vincent Muzik/Icon SMI)

The Wild commenced a 'soft' rebuild on the day Chuck Fletcher took over for Doug Risebrough. The majority of Risebrough's prospects have been flushed, and a steady eye for the future has been in evidence. It hasn't been a 'scorched earth' rebuild, whether out of honor or overconfidence, and the team should rebound soon from a season where injuries exposed a lack of elite talent. Free agents and reclamation projects can only bring a franchise so far, and Fletcher's regime has brought a concerted effort toward finding talent to the draft board. The Wild has been preparing for several of the young men playing in the U.S. college ranks and in Europe to form the team's core going forward.

Mikael Granlund, C, HIFK (SM-Liiga)
Drafted 1st round, 9th overall, 2010
Read more»
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