Nikita Gusev

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Nikita Gusev

| image = Nikita Gusev 2013-01-30.jpeg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Gusev with Amur Khabarovsk in 2013

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|7|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Moscow, Russia

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 163

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Right

| league = KHL

| team = Dynamo Moscow

| former_teams = CSKA Moscow
Amur Khabarovsk
Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk
SKA Saint Petersburg
New Jersey Devils
Florida Panthers

| ntl_team = RUS

| draft = 202nd overall

| draft_year = 2012

| draft_team = Tampa Bay Lightning

| career_start = 2010

}}

Nikita Andreyevich Gusev ({{langx|ru|Никита Андреевич Гусев}}; born 8 July 1992), nicknamed "Goose", is a Russian professional ice hockey forward currently playing under contract for HC Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

He became known as one of the best players in the KHL – winning the KHL's Golden Stick (MVP) award in 2018, and 2024 and finished the 2023–24 Season with 89 points (23 goals, 66 assists). His 89 points is the highest season total in the history of the KHL, beating out Sergei Mozyakin's record of 85 points. Gusev won the KHL's Gagarin Cup championship in 2017 with SKA Saint Petersburg.

Internationally, he has represented Russia on numerous occasions, winning a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

=Professional=

==SKA Saint Petersburg==

On 14 July 2017, Gusev signed a two-year contract extension with Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) powerhouse club SKA Saint Petersburg.{{cite web |url=https://www.thescore.com/news/1333200|title=Nikita Gusev re-signs with KHL's SKA St. Petersburg|first=Filp|last=Livingstone|work=The Score|date=14 July 2017|access-date=14 July 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/goldenknights/reserve-list|title=Vegas Golden Knights Reserve List|access-date=21 June 2018}}

In the 2018–19 season, his last season under contract with SKA, Gusev posted a career and league-high 82 points, leading the KHL with 65 assists. He continued his offensive dominance in the post-season, contributing 19 points in 18 games before suffering a conference final defeat for the second consecutive season to CSKA Moscow. Through nine seasons in the KHL, Gusev is 10th all-time with 332 points in 391 games.

==New Jersey Devils==

On 21 June 2017, with the selection of Jason Garrison by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, the Knights received from the Tampa Bay Lightning the rights to Gusev, along with a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft as compensation for the Golden Knights agreeing to select Garrison.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/defenseman-jason-garrison-selected-by-vegas-golden-knights/c-290047612 |title=Defenseman Jason Garrison selected by Vegas Golden Knights |author= |date=21 June 2017 |publisher=Tampa Bay Lightning |access-date=21 June 2017 }}

On 14 April 2019, Gusev signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, instantly joining the club amid their first-round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, remaining on the Golden Knights extended squad without playing for the club.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/vegas-golden-knights-sign-forward-nikita-gusev-to-entry-level-contract/c-306751654 | title = Vegas Golden Knights sign forward Nikita Gusev to entry-level contract | publisher = Vegas Golden Knights | date = 2019-04-14 | access-date = 2019-04-14}}

On 29 July 2019, Gusev as a restricted free agent, was traded by the Golden Knights to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a third-round pick in 2020 and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He immediately agreed to terms with the Devils on a two-year, $9 million contract with an average annual value of $4,500,000.{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/vegas-golden-knights-trade-nikita-gusev-to-new-jersey-devils-1.1343700 | title = Devils sign, acquire Gusev from Vegas | publisher = The Sports Network | date = 29 July 2019 | access-date = 29 July 2019}} In the following 2019–20 season, Gusev made an immediate offensive impact with the rebuilding Devils, leading the club with 31 assists and placing second in points with 44 through 66 games before the remainder of the regular season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the Devils missing the postseason, Gusev returned to action in the delayed 2020–21 season and struggled to replicate the previous season's campaign offensively, posting just two goals and five points through 20 games. On 9 April 2021, the Devils placed Gusev on unconditional waivers in order to mutually terminate the remainder of his contract.{{cite web| url = https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2150547/devils-place-gusev-on-unconditional-waivers-for-contract-termination | title = Devils place Gusev on unconditional waivers for contract termination | publisher = TheScore | date = 9 April 2021 | access-date = 9 April 2021}}

==Florida Panthers==

On 11 April 2021, Gusev signed as a free agent to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Florida Panthers.{{cite web |title=Florida Panthers agree to terms with Nikita Gusev on a one-year contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-agree-to-terms-with-nikita-gusev-on-a-one-year-contract/c-323532472 |publisher=Florida Panthers |date=11 April 2021 |access-date=11 April 2021}}

==Return to SKA==

As a free agent over the summer and approaching the {{nhly|2021}} season, Gusev opted to continue his career in the NHL, signing a Professional Tryout contract in accepting an invitation to attend the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp on September 18, 2021.{{cite web| url = https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-take-low-risk-gamble-nikita-gusev/ | title = Maple Leafs take low-risk gamble on Gusev | publisher = Sportsnet.ca | date = September 18, 2021| accessdate = September 18, 2021}} Gusev was later released from his tryout on October 5, 2021.{{cite web| url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-release-gusev-pto-assign-four-players-marlies/ | title=Maple Leafs release Gusev from PTO; assign four players to Marlies |publisher=sportsnet.ca| date = October 5, 2021| accessdate= October 5, 2021}} with no other NHL teams expressing an interest he opted to return to the KHL, with his former team SKA Saint Petersburg.

Gusev enjoyed two offensively productive seasons with SKA, before opting to leave the club as a free agent at the conclusion of the 2022–23 season on 30 April 2023.{{cite web| url = https://www.ska.ru/news/view/nikita-spasibo-za-ighru/ | title = Nikita Gusev leaves Saint Petersburg | language = Russian | date = 30 April 2023 | accessdate = 30 April 2023}}

==Dynamo Moscow==

On 18 July 2023, Gusev as a free agent agreed to terms on a one-year contract with his fifth KHL club, HC Dynamo Moscow, for the 2023–24 season.{{cite web| url = https://dynamo.ru/news/230087-nikita_gusev______v____dinamo___ | title = Nikita Gusev to Dynamo! | publisher = HC Dynamo Moscow | date = 18 July 2023 | accessdate = 18 July 2023 | language = Russian}} After a highly productive debut season with Dynamo, Gusev was re-signed to a one-year contract extension on 1 August 2024.{{citeweb| url = https://www.khl.ru/news/2024/08/01/533124.html | title = Ak bars strengthened by Barabanov, Gusev returns to Dynamo | publisher = Kontinental Hockey League | date = 1 August 2024 | accessdate = 1 August 2024 | language = Russian }}

International play

{{MedalCountry|
{{flagIOC|OAR|2018 Winter}}}}

{{MedalCountry|{{flagIOC|ROC|2022 Winter}}}}

{{MedalCountry|{{ih|RUS}}}}

Gusev has played for Russia at the World Junior Championships and World Championships. He was a member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

On 23 January 2022, Gusev was named to the roster to represent Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-m/news/31594/roc_targets_repeat_gold |title=ROC targets repeat gold |date=24 January 2022 |access-date=9 February 2022 |publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM
2007–08 \| Belye Medvedi Moskva \| MosJHL \| 7	5	9	14	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2008–09 \| Belye Medvedi Moskva \| MosJHL \| 24	30	33	63	6 \| —	—	—	—	—
2009–10 \| Krasnaya Armiya \| MHL \| 48	17	40	57	14 \| 5	1	2	3	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2010–11 \| CSKA Moscow \| KHL \| 18	1	0	1	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
2010–11 \| Krasnaya Armiya \| MHL \| 38	22	37	59	14 \| 16	17	10	27	6
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2011–12 \| CSKA Moscow \| KHL \| 15	2	1	3	0 \| 1	0	0	0	0
2011–12 \| Krasnaya Armiya \| MHL \| 34	30	46	76	26 \| 19	16	17	33	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2012–13 \| CSKA Moscow \| KHL \| 6	0	1	1	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2012–13 \| THK Tver \| VHL \| 15	7	6	13	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2012–13 \| Amur Khabarovsk \| KHL \| 24	4	8	12	6 \| —	—	—	—	—
2013–14 \| HC Yugra \| KHL \| 44	8	6	14	10 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2014–15 \| HC Yugra \| KHL \| 55	21	16	37	12 \| —	—	—	—	—
2015–16 \| HC Yugra \| KHL \| 23	7	7	14	4 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2015–16 \| SKA Saint Petersburg \| KHL \| 33	13	22	35	10 \| 15	5	9	14	0
2016–17 \| SKA Saint Petersburg \| KHL \| 57	24	47	71	8 \| 18	7	16	23	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2017–18 \| SKA Saint Petersburg \| KHL \| 54	22	40	62	2 \| 15	7	5	12	2
2018–19 \| SKA Saint Petersburg \| KHL \| 62	17	65	82	10 \| 18	9	10	19	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2019–20 \| New Jersey Devils \| NHL \| 66	13	31	44	12 \| —	—	—	—	—
2020–21 \| New Jersey Devils \| NHL \| 20	2	3	5	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2020–21 \| Florida Panthers \| NHL \| 11	2	3	5	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
2021–22 \| SKA Saint Petersburg \| KHL \| 31	10	25	35	4 \| 16	7	9	16	12
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2022–23 \| SKA Saint Petersburg \| KHL \| 37	23	26	49	6 \| 13	5	7	12	0
2023–24 \| Dynamo Moscow \| KHL \| 68	23	66	89	10 \| 9	3	7	10	2
2024-25 \| Dynamo Moscow \| KHL \| 68	29	40	69	12
style="background:#e0e0e0;" \| colspan="3" \| KHL totals \| 595	204	370	574	96 \| 105	43	63	106	18
style="background:#e0e0e0;" \| colspan="3" \| NHL totals \| 97	17	37	54	14 \| —	—	—	—	—

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2012

| Russia

| WJC

| {{silver2}}

| 7

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2017

| Russia

| WC

| {{bronze3}}

| 10

| 7

| 14

| 4

2018

| OAR

| OG

| {{gold1}}

| 6

| 4

| 8

| 12

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018

| Russia

| WC

| 6th

| 4

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 0

2019

| Russia

| WC

| {{bronze3}}

| 10

| 4

| 12

| 16

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2022

| ROC

| OG

| {{silver2}}

| 6

| 0

| 6

| 2

bgcolor=#e0e0e0

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 7 !! 3 !! 6 !! 9 !! 0

bgcolor=#e0e0e0

! colspan="4" | Senior totals

! 36 !! 16 !! 36 !! 52 !! 10

Awards and honors

File:Vladimir Putin and Nikita Gusev.jpg in 2018.]]

class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year !
colspan="3"\|KHL
All-Star Game \| 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 \|
Golden Stick (MVP) \| 2018, 2024 \|
Gagarin Cup champion \| 2017 \| {{cite web \|url=http://en.khl.ru/news/2017/04/16/345125.html \|title=Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 SKA St. Petersburg 5 \|author= \|date= 2017-04-16 \| website = Kontinental Hockey League \|access-date= 2017-04-16}}
colspan="3"\|International
Olympic Best Forward \| 2018 \| {{cite web \|url=http://pyeongchang2018.iihf.hockey/men/news/kovalchuk-mvp/ \|title=Kovalchuk MVP \|work=IIHF.com \|access-date=25 February 2018 \|date=25 February 2018 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225193008/http://pyeongchang2018.iihf.hockey/men/news/kovalchuk-mvp/ \|archive-date=25 February 2018 \|url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

colspan="3"|KHL

All-Star Game

| 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

Golden Stick (MVP)

| 2018, 2024

Gagarin Cup champion

| 2017

| {{cite web |url=http://en.khl.ru/news/2017/04/16/345125.html |title=Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3 SKA St. Petersburg 5 |author= |date= 2017-04-16 | website = Kontinental Hockey League |access-date= 2017-04-16}}

colspan="3"|International

Olympic Best Forward

| 2018

| {{cite web |url=http://pyeongchang2018.iihf.hockey/men/news/kovalchuk-mvp/ |title=Kovalchuk MVP |work=IIHF.com |access-date=25 February 2018 |date=25 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225193008/http://pyeongchang2018.iihf.hockey/men/news/kovalchuk-mvp/ |archive-date=25 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}