Gustafsson will be in the line-up that the Jets send to Edmonton. It's a relatively young roster, but head coach Rick Bowness wants to see how those younger players are picking up the new systems the team has been working on over the past four days.
"It's going to jump out at us who is catching on and who isn't individually, but also team wise," said Bowness after a session with the non game group Sunday morning. "It's 'Okay we're not forechecking well, we're not back checking well.' All those things that sometimes it's not just individual, it's the team format as well."
READ THE GAME NOTES
There is another bonus for the coaching staff when it comes to an actual preseason game as opposed to the two scrimmages the Jets have had so far in camp.
"When we're doing the video now, we're watching White this time, then the next time we're watching Blue. White, then Blue," Bowness laughed. "Now we can just focus on us."
That focus doesn't change depending on who Edmonton has in the line-up either. If the home side goes veteran heavy, or matches the youth the Jets are sending, Bowness will only be focused on his squad.
"We're not going to focus at all on Edmonton and we're going to roll, everyone is going to have a chance to play," Bowness said. "If they play (Connor) McDavid, they play McDavid. We're not worried about that. We're worried about our guys, that's all."
So the opportunity is there for a player like Gustafsson to make an impression.
After a 2021-22 season that saw the 22-year-old appear in two NHL games - though those appearances were both short lived due to early injuries - he's ready to turn the page.
"This coach hasn't seen me play before so I've got to go out there and show what kind of player I am," Gustafsson said. "These first few days it's really important. He gets the first look of you and it tends to stick for a while. I try to do the best I can these first days to show him I'm a player that wants to play up here."
Injuries also derailed Kristian Reichel's season. The forward played his first 13 games at the NHL last season before an injury in Calgary knocked him out of the line-up on February 21.
Still, he notched his first NHL goal during that stint, and now has the confidence that he can play at the highest level.
"I needed to get stronger throughout the summer to play on the forecheck," said the 24-year-old. "In front of the net you need to be strong and tough to move out, that's what I was focusing on this summer. I think I did a really good job on that, so I just want to make a good impression and move forward."
Puck drop is set for 5 pm CT.
ICE CHIPS
While they didn't take part in the one-hour skate with the non game group, Brad Lambert, Wyatt Bongiovanni, and Morgan Barron skated on their own on Sunday.
Bowness is hopeful that Lambert (who participated in the first skate of training camp) and Barron (yet to take to the ice in training camp) will be able to join the group on Tuesday.
Bongiovanni, injured in Penticton at the Young Stars Classic, is expected to be out a bit longer.
THE ROSTER
Forwards -Saku Maenalanen, Jansen Harkins, David Gustafsson, Dominic Toninato, Mason Appleton, Mikey Eyssimont, Kevin Stenlund, Jeff Malott, Chaz Lucius, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kristian Reichel, Cole Perfetti.
Defence -Dylan DeMelo, Ashton Sautner, Declan Chisholm, Logan Stanley, Johnathan Kovacevic, Leon Gawanke, Kyle Capobianco.
Goaltenders -David Rittich, Arvid Holm
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