LW Gustav Nyquist (2008, 121st overall, Detroit)

[newfy]

If he develops like the Wings hope he will, Gus should become a consistent 70 point player in the NHL. It's unfair to Gus to compare him to Pavel. I think a fair comparison would be Filppula, but he seems a little further along in his development than Flip was.

He has a knack for getting the puck and then holding onto it. Watching the Nashville game, he would just be about to complete his move and separate himself from a defender and would get outmuscled at the last second. Something I like about him offensively is he initiates contact on a lot of his moves. He isn't just trying to dangle his way by, so in that respect he reminds me of Z. But he, like these other players has his own style/flair to his game.

At any rate, he fits the team in Detroit and I don't expect any trouble transferring to the NHL other than getting stronger. I would like to see him get a fair chance at 82 games next year.

Filppula never seemed to have the nose for the net and just knack for getting points like Nyquist does. I think their skillsets are comparable, both are shifty, have moves, solid skaters, and solid defensively... But Nyquist seems to be one of those guys that just shows up on the score sheet more.

His last stint with the wings hes looked better then when he played at the start of the year as well. That might be due to the fact hes getting more icetime with better guys, but hes also adjusted to playing men more as well

 

[Anchor Town*]

Gus is up to 4 points in 9 games while playing only 9:36 a night. Also a +2

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Nyquist is going to be a stud, he just needs to get a little more weight and to be stronger on the puck. I think he does both this off-season and is on Detroit's roster from the start of next season.

 

[vippe]

If he gets to play a top 6 role next year I could certainly see him contend for the calder.. guy can play

 

[newfy]

If he gets to play a top 6 role next year I could certainly see him contend for the calder.. guy can play

Yup, especially playing with Datsyuk. With Smith and Nyquist next year the wings could have 2 calder contenders

 

[frederixx]

Gus is up to 4 points in 9 games while playing only 9:36 a night. Also a +2

Yup and 3 in his last 4...

 

[joe89]

Hasn't really looked comfortable, IMO. A little tentative, takes extremely short shifts, no real chemistry with his line mates yet(been shuffled around). Obviously a little afraid to be creative with the puck after the Nashville game mistake.

At the same time he's been getting sheltered minutes, something he's not used to. And he still hasn't gotten a chance to play on our abysmal PP. Once he gets a full chance to play top6 with PP time is when we'll see what he's really capable of. This is just a good learning process for next season.

 

[Anchor Town*]

Hasn't really looked comfortable, IMO. A little tentative, takes extremely short shifts, no real chemistry with his line mates yet(been shuffled around). Obviously a little afraid to be creative with the puck after the Nashville game mistake.

At the same time he's been getting sheltered minutes, something he's not used to. And he still hasn't gotten a chance to play on our abysmal PP. Once he gets a full chance to play top6 with PP time is when we'll see what he's really capable of. This is just a good learning process for next season.

He wasn't sheltered last night, he played on the top line with Datsyuk

 

[malkinfan]

He wasn't sheltered last night, he played on the top line with Datsyuk

He wishes he was sheltered, I was at the game last night and lemme tell ya, he got absolutely leveled by Ovechkin.

 

[Dynheart]

He wishes he was sheltered, I was at the game last night and lemme tell ya, he got absolutely leveled by Ovechkin.

It's hockey. You would think he'd expect big hits sooner or later, sheltered or not.

The kid is playng great considering he's pretty much being rushed atm.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

Kid looks soooo small out there. Seems too easy to push. Has some work to do. Wish he'd have turned pro a year earlier. That last year in college was a waste.

 

[sully6one]

He's definitely going to be a stud in the NHL. All he needs to add to be just a 2nd line player for 82 games + playoffs is strength, size, and confidence. Which he will get the first two this off season and the last one probably early on next season. He'll be a future first line player with production around 70 points regularly, potentially 90 a few seasons. Pretty much expect him to have Datsyuk and Zetterberg type numbers.

 

[WayneBruce]

He's definitely going to be a stud in the NHL. All he needs to add to be just a 2nd line player for 82 games + playoffs is strength, size, and confidence. Which he will get the first two this off season and the last one probably early on next season. He'll be a future first line player with production around 70 points regularly, potentially 90 a few seasons. Pretty much expect him to have Datsyuk and Zetterberg type numbers.

As a swede this post gets me excited. Is he really that good though? I had barely heard of him before this season and have yet to see him play.

 

[Henkka]

As a swede this post gets me excited. Is he really that good though? I had barely heard of him before this season and have yet to see him play.

Almost every hidden gem at University level goes this way. Nobody outside the drafting team doesn't know anything about him, and suddenly the guys come out of the shadows. And people are asking "who's this guy?"

 

[bishop]

Almost every hidden gem at University level goes this way. Nobody outside the drafting team doesn't know anything about him, and suddenly the guys come out of the shadows. And people are asking "who's this guy?"

Carl Hagelin?

 

[sully6one]

As a swede this post gets me excited. Is he really that good though? I had barely heard of him before this season and have yet to see him play.

He is so dominant with the puck and very flashy. He has that wow factor

 

[newfy]

As a swede this post gets me excited. Is he really that good though? I had barely heard of him before this season and have yet to see him play.

I dont think hes quite on that Datsyuk level but who knows, hes flashy and looks just like Datsyuk did when he came up. Pulls sick moves but you can tell he just needs strength to really dominate. I would expect 70 points out of him though. 90 is lofty expectations. He also likes to do that nifty Datsyuk sneaky take away.

He has 4 points in 5 games on this call up I'm pretty sure, he seems like a guy that just finds ways to get on the scoresheet

 

[obey86]

shoulda shot that effin puck on the 2 on 1. ugh.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

I dont think hes quite on that Datsyuk level but who knows, hes flashy and looks just like Datsyuk did when he came up. Pulls sick moves but you can tell he just needs strength to really dominate. I would expect 70 points out of him though. 90 is lofty expectations. He also likes to do that nifty Datsyuk sneaky take away.

He has 4 points in 5 games on this call up I'm pretty sure, he seems like a guy that just finds ways to get on the scoresheet

He's skilled for sure, but i don't think it's fair to say that he looks just like Datsyuk did. Keep in mind that a month or two into Datsyuk's rookie season he was already making some of us say "this kid does things with the puck that we've never seen before."

Gus is shifty and skilled, but it was apparent from day 1 that Pavel's puck skills were not normal.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

He's skilled for sure, but i don't think it's fair to say that he looks just like Datsyuk did. Keep in mind that a month or two into Datsyuk's rookie season he was already making some of us say "this kid does things with the puck that we've never seen before."

Gus is shifty and skilled, but it was apparent from day 1 that Pavel's puck skills were not normal.

Exactly

 

[newfy]

He's skilled for sure, but i don't think it's fair to say that he looks just like Datsyuk did. Keep in mind that a month or two into Datsyuk's rookie season he was already making some of us say "this kid does things with the puck that we've never seen before."

Gus is shifty and skilled, but it was apparent from day 1 that Pavel's puck skills were not normal.

I think you and captain bob overrate how Pavel looked when he came over a bit. His first season he obviously looked better than Nyquist does right now, but not astronmically like you make it sound.

He would pull off moves but had no strength so he would get pushed over whenever he tried them. He showed flashes of skill obviously but was pretty frustrating at times because he was so weak. People wanted to trade him for Olesz at one point.

Nyquist is just adjusting now, give him one more summer to bulk up and you might be surprised at how close they look. He hasnt played against men yet

I do think Datsyuk is better but Nyquist looks pretty damn good and has the best offensive skillset since Datsyuk thtat Ive seen from a wings prospect

 

[RedWingsNow*]

I think you and captain bob overrate how Pavel looked when he came over a bit. His first season he obviously looked better than Nyquist does right now, but not astronmically like you make it sound.

I think you have no idea what you are talking about.
In the very first game I saw him, I was like, whoa,... what's this guy's name? Duck Soup? Where did he come from.
Right from the very get go it was clear that this guy's stickhandling skills were OFF THE CHARTS.
Nothing about Nyquist is off the charts. He's got some nice skills. I think he's got potential to be a solid player who contributes to a scoring line
But he doesn't have out-of-this-world skill that Datsyuk showed from day 1.

He would pull off moves but had no strength so he would get pushed over whenever he tried them. He showed flashes of skill obviously but was pretty frustrating at times because he was so weak. People wanted to trade him for Olesz at one point.

He showed flashes of skill on a line with Devereaux and Dandenualt. And Hull got wise and made Scotty form the "two kids and a goat" line
As a rookie, Datsyuk was perhaps Detroit's best forward in the second half of his rookie season. Despite his weaknesses.
He looked overwhelmed in his first playoffs... but still.

Newfy, I like your prospect updates. But people are just ridiculous with their projections of prospects at times.

Let Nyquist develop into his own player. Don't compare him to Datsyuk and you won't be disappointed. Keep doing that and you will be.

I do think Datsyuk is better but Nyquist looks pretty damn good and has the best offensive skillset since Datsyuk thtat Ive seen from a wings prospect

Hmm. Well, Zetterberg was pretty good.
What I saw of Grigorenko at the WJCs was awesome — better than Nyquist, IMO. Until the car crash.

But yeah, I guess that's a point I won't argue with. Franzen was already 23 or whatever when he was drafted and wasn't viewed as an offensive threat.
Filppula, IMO, might not have Nyquist's puckhanding skills. But I think his skating ability is pretty impressive.
I think Nyquist's top-of-the-line ability is like a cross between Zetterberg and Flip.

Actually, watching Nyquist, he looks like a smaller version of a Sedin out there.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

He's skilled for sure, but i don't think it's fair to say that he looks just like Datsyuk did. Keep in mind that a month or two into Datsyuk's rookie season he was already making some of us say "this kid does things with the puck that we've never seen before."

Gus is shifty and skilled, but it was apparent from day 1 that Pavel's puck skills were not normal.

It might still be on the AHL level, but if you have seen him play in Grand Rapids he actually has quite a few how the heck did he do that moments. Because we have seen Datsyuk do so many that is why we just call them Datsyukian moments. Note, Gus puck skills and vision are far from normal and easily the best in our system since Datsyuk.

He needs to get stronger but he will and when he does the sky is the limit.

 

[bottomofthefoodchain]

Looked really shifty last night against the Rangers. Saw a couple of impressive shifts, and he also picked up an assist.

 

[Anchor Town*]

Carl Hagelin?

Nyquist has a higher ceiling for sure