Équipe: 2020-21 Devils du New Jersey

Date de création initiale: 9 avr. 2021

Publié: 9 avr. 2021

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Nikita Gusev has struggled this year under new coach Lindy Ruff. But I think there may be good fits for him on other teams. This post is just spit-balling some potential options

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Goose never fit into Lindy’s system (that made Centers big part of rush) whereas he thrived in 2nd half last year under Hines/Nas’s system (which held centers back and let wings lead offensive attack).

He is great at puck-control, possession, passing. He can be very shifty, creative play-maker. Certainly useful on power-play. He is a good skater, but not a burner. Right-hand shot that plays LW and likes to cut in towards middle (why he is better in system with centers behind him so he has more space).

I think he would best fit in a situation where a team has a strong, defensive center on 3rd line, and he could match with another creative winger (similar to Gusev/Datsyuk/Kaprizov line from Olympics, or Gusev/Zacha/Bratt from from 2nd half last year).

Last season: goal differential (over 60 min) and Corsi For % (by lines)
On Hughes and Hischier lines: -0.37 and 40.3%
On Zajac and Zacha lines: +0.99 and 49.7%
Gusev / Zacha / Bratt line: +2.55 and 52.0%

In other words, he did better on Zajac/Zacha lines than he did in top-6 with Hischier and Hughes.

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Cost - mid/late pick with 50% salary retained ($2.25 million AAV).

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Where do you all think?

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