LW Nikita Gusev - SKA, KHL (2012, 202nd, TBL; traded to VGK)

[The Macho King]

They used to say the same things about Panarin, and he is, as far as I remember, on the NHL 2nd all-star team now.

Is every guy who does well in Russia going to be compared to Panarin? Not all undrafted short forwards end up as good as MSL.

 

[Fantomas]

Gusev has to be as good as Martin St. Louis now?

 

[Iceman]

Gusev has to be as good as Martin St. Louis now?

Of course! Gusev is already on the plane to Vegas as we speak!

 

[Gargyn]

I don't think there's any guarantee of that. First - question if he comes over. Second - question of how he adapts to the NHL. It's a much faster game than in Russia. It's much smaller ice. It's much more physical.

Not everyone who does well in the KHL can hack it in the NHL. I like the kid and thought he should've been given a shot, but he is getting overrated as hell around here. He's 25 years old and has never touched NHL ice.

Absolutely dominated WC. Looked much better than most players. And most were in the NHL.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Is every guy who does well in Russia going to be compared to Panarin? Not all undrafted short forwards end up as good as MSL.

I don't compare Mamin, Lyubimov, Plotnikov, Tikhonov, Kalinin, Telegin etc to Panarin.

Panarin's best year in the KHL: 62 points in 54 games in the regular, 20 points in 20 games in the playoffs.

Gusev's best year: 71 points in 57 games in the regular, 23 points in 18 games in the playoffs.

Why can't I compare him to Panarin?

 

[Caser]

Gusev has resigned with SKA until 2019, but apparently it won't mean that Vegas will lose his NHL rights after that because of lack of KHL/NHL transfer agreement. Won't be restricted to ELC money anymore though.

 

[WADEugottaBELAKthat]

Its been a long time since people were talking Gusev here. I didn´t watch much Olympics. Did he look as good as his stat-line projected?

 

[Kshahdoo]

Its been a long time since people were talking Gusev here. I didn´t watch much Olympics. Did he look as good as his stat-line projected?

Probably, he was better, than his stats. And yes, I know, that he was 2PPG.

 

[Kipper933]

Its been a long time since people were talking Gusev here. I didn´t watch much Olympics. Did he look as good as his stat-line projected?

He was the best player in the tournament imo.

 

[Kshahdoo]

He was the best player in the tournament imo.

3 points from the 2nd best scorer at 6 game tournament... It's hard to argue, he wasn't. And he scored all his goals in the playoffs and was 2+2 in the final.

 

[WADEugottaBELAKthat]

Don`t suppose there are any Gusev updates out there?

At a glance Gusev has about the same ppg as in previous years (about 1.25), second in KHL points. But it strikes me as interesting that nobody on his team is even close. 2nd leading scorer has a 0.75 PPG clip.

Hope we see him here this summer.

 

[DuklaNation]

As I understand it since his birthday falls just after July 1st, his UFA status is pushed to July 1, 2020. So tough decision for him on what kind of deal he accepts if he comes to NHL for 19/20 season. He is the best player outside NHL currently and could help any team.

 

[Atas2000]

Don`t suppose there are any Gusev updates out there?

At a glance Gusev has about the same ppg as in previous years (about 1.25), second in KHL points. But it strikes me as interesting that nobody on his team is even close. 2nd leading scorer has a 0.75 PPG clip.

Hope we see him here this summer.

After the Shipachyov debacle I dout Gusev's interest in the VGK org.

 

[Newfoundland]

He'll never come over

 

[Merci Saku]

After the Shipachyov debacle I dout Gusev's interest in the VGK org.

Sure, because he set the standard for every russians

 

[theslatcher]

After the Shipachyov debacle I dout Gusev's interest in the VGK org.

Ship when talking about it a year after the fact:

"Listen, any hockey player who wants to go to the NHL, I advise you to go and try. My example is not revealing. In addition, I was not able to adapt there to some everyday moments. Perhaps another person will find these problems unimportant."

 

[DFC]

Ship when talking about it a year after the fact:

"Listen, any hockey player who wants to go to the NHL, I advise you to go and try. My example is not revealing. In addition, I was not able to adapt there to some everyday moments. Perhaps another person will find these problems unimportant."

I like this context.

When Gusev was with TB, the story was he wanted an NHL spot rather than to work his way up from Syracuse, and we just couldn't guarantee him anything. (<-- That sentence sounds negative, but it's not meant to be; Gusev has had a great career, and coming over would be a big risk, with no guarantees.) I'm not sure what the story is now. It wouldn't shock me if this is a player who never comes over, although, I must say, his style of player seems like it'll translate better now than at the time of his draft, or even at the time TB had him. Small, skilled players are all the rage.

I wish him luck. I think TB made a good trade, not so much with who we protected, but with the contract we shed (Garrison). But I've always been interested to see how Gusev would do in the NHL.

 

[Keep Sorokin Me Babe]

I really hope this guy signs, and soon. I want to see how he matches up in the NHL while still in his prime.

 

[ccman68]

How is Gusev’s skating? Remember Pronman saying it’s not very good for his size. Could be something that makes the transition difficult for him.

 

[theslatcher]

I really hope this guy signs, and soon. I want to see how he matches up in the NHL while still in his prime.

It sounds very likely that he will come over when the KHL season is over for him.

Igor Eronko(NHL.com/ru contributor, Sport-Express writer, NHL commentator at Eurosport), who knows Gusev, is pretty confident that it will happen. He's also talked with Gusev's first coach(who is in daily contact with Gusev) who thinks Gusev is coming over. Gusev's currently working on his English, and his wife speaks fluent English, so no language barrier stopping him.

 

[Atas2000]

How is Gusev’s skating? Remember Pronman saying it’s not very good for his size. Could be something that makes the transition difficult for him.

Do you think he could score that much if he had skating issues?

 

[ccman68]

Do you think he could score that much if he had skating issues?

Definitely easier on bigger ice. Look at what happened to Tolvanen.

 

[Atas2000]

Ship when talking about it a year after the fact:

"Listen, any hockey player who wants to go to the NHL, I advise you to go and try. My example is not revealing. In addition, I was not able to adapt there to some everyday moments. Perhaps another person will find these problems unimportant."

That's what he tells the press. Who know what he tells Gusev in private. And that's before talking about Gusev making up his own mind just remembering how Shipachyov's trip unfolded.

 

[Atas2000]

Definitely easier on bigger ice. Look at what happened to Tolvanen.

Bigger ice=tougher skating requirements

 

[Atas2000]

It sounds very likely that he will come over when the KHL season is over for him.

Igor Eronko(NHL.com/ru contributor, Sport-Express writer, NHL commentator at Eurosport), who knows Gusev, is pretty confident that it will happen. He's also talked with Gusev's first coach(who is in daily contact with Gusev) who thinks Gusev is coming over. Gusev's currently working on his English, and his wife speaks fluent English, so no language barrier stopping him.

Eronko had Kovalchuk to the Rangers at 99% done last sommer. I don't think he is a 99% source.

I think in general Gusev is interested. It's more about VGK and GMGM than the general wish to go to the NHL next season.