Carl Gunnarsson

On June 27, 2019, Gunnarsson was signed to a two-year $3.5 million contract extension to remain with the Blues.

Gunnarsson played 68 games with the Blues during the 2017–18 season before suffering a season-ending ACL tear, forcing him to miss six months in order to recover. He returned to the lineup prior to the 2018–19 season and helped the Blues qualify for the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. During the Finals, Gunnarsson scored the overtime game-winning goal in Game 2 to even the series against the Boston Bruins. During intermission prior to overtime, Gunnarsson approached coach Craig Berube at the urinal and told him he just needed one more shot. This was the first time that the Blues had won a game in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Blues eventually defeated the Bruins in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, ending a 52-year drought.

Gunnarsson joined the Blues for their 2014–15 season and made their opening night lineup. By the time he met the Leafs for the first time of the season, he was playing on a defensive pairing with Kevin Shattenkirk and helping the Blues maintain a 16-4-2 home record. He signed a three-year contract to stay with the Blues on 11 March 2016.

Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Gunnarsson was released by the Leafs in order to playout the season with his hometown team Örebro HK. After the lockout ended, Gunnarsson returned to North America and continued the season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, his time in the lineup was shortlived as he underwent treatment to rehabilitate a hip injury after playing in seven games. Gunnarsson was cleared to play for the Leafs prior to the 2013–14 season and made their opening lineup. That season would prove to be his last with the Maple Leafs, as on 28 June 2014, Gunnarsson was traded to the St. Louis Blues (along with a fourth-round draft pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft) in exchange for defenceman Roman Polák. He underwent hip surgery during the offseason and was medically cleared to play on 14 October 2014.

Entering the first year of his new contract, Gunnarsson competed for a spot on the Maple Leafs roster against nine other defenceman. The Leafs leaned heavily on Gunnarsson during the 2011–12 season, with only captain Dion Phaneuf logging more time on ice. During practice on 12 February 2012, Gunnarsson collided with teammate Jay Rosehill and he missed three games to recover from the subsequent ankle injury. He returned to the Leafs lineup only to suffer a season-ending separated shoulder injury during the teams final home game against the Buffalo Sabres on 4 April.

Following a successful rookie season, Gunnarsson cracked the Leafs opening lineup prior to the 2010–11 season. However, Gunnarsson's second season in the NHL did not begin as smoothly as his first; he was a healthy scratch 13 times throughout the season and did not play more than 20-minutes of ice time until his 17th game of the season. His play began to pick up through the final 24 games of the season and he ended the year with four goals and 20 points in 68 games. Gunnarsson was rewarded for his success with a two year contract extension on 14 June 2011.

Growing up in Sweden, Gunnarsson began his minor ice hockey career with the Örebro HK and Linköpings HC junior teams. He was eventually selected in the seventh round, 194th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs but chose to play in the Swedish Elite League for Linköpings HC. On 2 June 2009, Gunnarsson began his North American professional career by signing an entry level contract with the Maple Leafs. He attended the Maple Leafs Rookie Camp in September and was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, to begin the 2009–10 season. His stint in the AHL was shortlived as he was called up to the Maple Leafs as a replacement for Mike Komisarek on 12 November. He made his NHL debut on 14 November in a loss to the Calgary Flames, during which he played more than 21 minutes of ice time and was praised by coach Ron Wilson as looking like the Leafs best defenceman. Gunnarsson stayed with the Leafs for the remainder of the season and scored his first NHL goal on 29 January 2010 against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils.

Gunnarsson made his international debut for Sweden at the 2004 IIHF World Under-18 Championships. He played in six games, recorded 24 penalty minutes and zero points. Later in his career, he has played for Sweden at three separate World Championships, helping his team capture a medal each time (one silver and two bronze).

Carl Gunnarsson (born 9 November 1986) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the organization which originally selected him in the seventh round, 194th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to playing in North America, Gunnarsson played for Linköpings HC of the Swedish Elite League. Gunnarsson plays internationally for Sweden and has participated in three IIHF World Championships, capturing one silver and two bronze medals. Gunnarsson won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Blues in 2019.

Gunnarsson was born on 9 November 1986, in Örebro, Sweden, to father Bjorn Gunnarsson.