Nikita Gusev - what's going on

[Onetimer]

“He’s a skilled player, smart player that can make plays,” Kucherov told SinBin.Vegas. “We played together as kids and it was nice to get back together and we had that chemistry back.”
Wow i would be looking @ this if i'm Tampa bay.

[Dennis]

Columbus has cap space and Vegas still has cap work to do. Gusev would be the sweetener.

Very true. I should've been thinking of cap space as an asset. My brain got stuck on Elvis in Vegas, the people want it. It's meant to be.

[Dennis]

SinBin.vegas‏ @SinBinVegas

Further confirming what @JesseGranger_ reported yesterday, this says Gusev wants $4M AAV but VGK are only offering $2M AAV.

[lucafen4]

Vegas really painted themselves into this corner by going after, and signing everyone long term

[butch]

isles need a 3rd line centerman so they'd probably do something for cody eakin .

[Dennis]

Vegas really painted themselves into this corner by going after, and signing everyone long term

Also by burning his ELC last year without him ever hitting the ice.

[ericdaoust]

Also by burning his ELC last year without him ever hitting the ice.

That needed to be done to get him here

[lucafen4]

and now they will likely watch him walk for an insignificant return.

If I'm Gusev, I don't trust McPhee and I refuse to drop my ask...

if anything I counter asking for more in an attempt to push the issue and reach a resolution.

There are multiple teams needing skilled wingers. He'll find a home. quickly.

[rataylor22]

I don't really see this and the Ship situation as comparable. They definitely mishandled that one. This one...I mean you don't turn down Mark Stone because you might have Gusev coming over in a month. I guess you could not sign William Karlsson, but I would take Karlsson over Gusev right now. Nobody really has any idea what Gusev is gonna be in the NHL.

Those are the only two contracts of consequence that Vegas has signed since they time that they might have had a >50% confidence that Gusev was coming over. McCrimmon has said that they will work with Gusev to facilitate a trade to somewhere he would like to play. As long as they actually do that, I don't really see how anyone can blame Vegas for filling out their roster prior to Gusev committing to come over. Keep in mind, as late as mid season most people still did not think he was actually going to come.

[rataylor22]

I'm sure Vegas would prefer to move Eakin or Reaves. Someone does have to want those players/contracts before Vegas can trade them, and given how Vegas held teams hostage during the expansion process I'm not sure there are too many teams looking to do them any favors now.

[lucafen4]

I'm sure Gusev doesn't want to get 12min a night on a bottom line either.

[mounD]

Every single GM with cap space should be calling up Vegas right now. With this guy's record of production in the KHL, it doesn't seem risky at all to give Gusev a 2-3 year deal around $4-5 million. By all accounts, that should be a steal for a player of his calibre. Instant top-six scoring forward, and because of Vegas' cap issues the cost of acquisition likely wouldn't even be too high.

This is a major opportunity.

[lucafen4]

Every single GM with cap space should be calling up Vegas right now. With this guy's record of production in the KHL, it doesn't seem risky at all to give Gusev a 2-3 year deal around $4-5 million. By all accounts, that should be a steal for a player of his calibre. Instant top-six scoring forward, and because of Vegas' cap issues the cost of acquisition likely wouldn't even be too high.

This is a major opportunity.

I agree.

Edm should be dumping Lucic to Van ASAP.
CBJ could recoup a fair portion of the Panarin loss
Van... well should but won't.
NYI - have the best assets of the above teams to take salary on with Gusev to get this done.
Car - lots of assets & want scoring

Those would be my top 5 teams to be calling.

[cheese_cake]

This is exciting news!
I'm pretty sure GMs must be calling Vegas, but at this point it all depends what Vegas asks for him. They don't have particular contracts to offload anymore, they just want to be cap compliant so they'll probably want the other team to pay in picks. My guess is that some GMs that could give Gusev increased opportunity dont really want to give too much in picks for an unproven Russian imo
so CBJ becomes a less likely destination for eg.

I agree.

Edm should be dumping Lucic to Van ASAP.
CBJ could recoup a fair portion of the Panarin loss
Van... well should but won't.
NYI - have the best assets of the above teams to take salary on with Gusev to get this done.
Car - lots of assets & want scoring

Those would be my top 5 teams to be calling.

What about the Wild?

[lucafen4]

This is exciting news!
I'm pretty sure GMs must be calling Vegas, but at this point it all depends what Vegas asks for him. They don't have particular contracts to offload anymore, they just want to be cap compliant so they'll probably want the other team to pay in picks. My guess is that some GMs that could give Gusev increased opportunity dont really want to give too much in picks for an unproven Russian imo
so CBJ becomes a less likely destination for eg.



What about the Wild?

i'm sure they're interested as well... just with Zucc, Zucker, Parise, Kunin, Fiala, Donato, Greenway - they're need at Wing, I felt, isn't as great as the 5 teams I listed