Is Gustavsson Really a "Monster" Or "Uncle Bester" All Over Again?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a monster in net for now. However, I will take you back in time for a moment. Specifically to the NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum, Montreal. The date was June 8th, 1983. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected a 5'7 155 lb goalie Born in Hamilton Ontario, considered the next best thing as he was a junior "monster between the pipes" as quoted by a one time KW Record reporter John Kiley.

I remember this article specifically as I had an autographed pic of Allan Bester in my room and framed the article that dubbed him being the saviour of the struggling Leafs goaltending woes. I also decorated the picture with alphabetical letters spelling the quoted "Monster" on it.

Ironically this draft that seen Allan Bester going in the 3rd round of the 1983 NHL Draft was also the draft that the St. Louis Blues did not to participate in as the league blocked the franchise's relocation to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This was the only time in National Hockey League history that a franchise did not participate in an entry draft. Ironically, this almost happened this year with the Phoenix Coyotes almost not having a team due to a relocation court case. But that's another story for another time.

Ready to time travel? June 8th, 2009. Twenty five years after the last "monster" was to save this storied franchise comes the announcement of the decision that Jonus "The Monster" Gustavvson has made the decision to join the 2009/2010 edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Although Bester's nickname was "Ernie", the fact that they storied him being a "monster" for the franchise compelled fans to reinvest in the Toronto Maple Leafs once again. However, we never saw Allan Bester get a GAA over .900 during his career with the Buds. Not to suggest that this will happen to the current version of the "Monster" as it's way to early to tell, and not to suggest that there are comparisons to the way the game is played today versus the yester years in the NHL. But you can't ignore the fact the storylines are very comparible to one another.

The memory the countless stories written about Allan Bester and his hype coming into the NHL can only be sidelined by the fact that it never panned out during his 8 year career with the Toronto Maple Leafs and he was soon forgotten after he was gone.

Will people be as quick to forget this "Monster"? Or will he live up to his name and impressive play and stick in the minds of Leafs fans for years to come?