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   Fri, September 18, 2009


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Gustavsson doing well
Goalie hopes to practice soon
By LANCE HORNBY, SUN MEDIA
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Jonas Gustavsson hopes to practice "as soon as possible" after minor heart surgery. (Sun Media/Dave Thomas)


The Maple Leafs breathed a sigh of relief today when Jonas Gustavsson dropped by practice after minor heart surgery on Tuesday.

"Of course you're scared but the doctors told me right away there is no danger," Gustavsson said at the MasterCard Centre.

The 24-year-old Swede, nicknamed The Monster, became dizzy during fitness testing on a stationary bike during club medicals on Saturday.

Further examination revealed that electrical pathways to his heart was upsetting his heart beat and a cardiac ablation was performed, with a catheter inserted through a blood vessel in his groin to the outside if the heart, burning a small scar to restore proper functions.

Gustavsson said he hopes to practice "as soon as possible", likely Saturday or Sunday. The time off the ice was as much to let the stitches in his groin heal to prevent infection as it was to make sure there was no repeat of heart problems.

The Leafs are in Pittsburgh tonight, hoping to go 2-1 in NHL exhibition play.

Centre Matt Stajan makes his pre-season debut, possibly on a line with rookie winger Viktor Stalberg, one of the most impressive players in camp.







Would Seattle be a good city for the NHL to relocate to?
  Yes, it'd be a great market.
  Maybe, who knows.
  No, they should go to Quebec instead.


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