How would Nikita Gusev fare in the NHL?

[deejb]

It totally depends on what kind of hockey he will have to play. I doubt Vegas is a right team for him.

 

[Retroglyphs]

Possesses elite passing skills. Depending on the quality of his linemates, he'd be able to pot as many assists as guys like Wheeler, Rantanen and Kucherov.

 

[Brazen331]

70-80 point player per season, but its also dependent on the team he plays for.

Shipachyov is a top 6 level NHL'er, but the team he signed for gave him a raw deal and now some claim he isn't an NHL caliber player. The same might happen with Gusev.

How did Shipachyov get a raw deal besides being sent down to the AHL? I agree that that kind of sucks but he was still making more money than anyone else skating on that team. I'm sure Vegas was sending him down because he could clear waivers and being an expansion they couldn't afford to lose anyone.

Now if the stories about him being out of shape and unable to keep up with the others in practice are being fabricated by Vegas then I can side with you. But I think it was more Gallant rather than GMGM who really had a problem with him. I think I heard their insider say that Gallant flat out went into GMGM's office and told him that he was not going to play the guy.

BTW, I think Vegas had Gusev in mind when they claimed Zykov. They DO want Gusev.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think that he proved he isn't an NHL caliber player all by himself.

He didn't get a chance to prove himself in the NHL, but based off his play in the KHL and for Russia, he's a top 6 caliber player in the NHL.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How did Shipachyov get a raw deal besides being sent down to the AHL? I agree that that kind of sucks but he was still making more money than anyone else skating on that team. I'm sure Vegas was sending him down because he could clear waivers and being an expansion they couldn't afford to lose anyone.

Now if the stories about him being out of shape and unable to keep up with the others in practice are being fabricated by Vegas then I can side with you. But I think it was more Gallant rather than GMGM who really had a problem with him. I think I heard their insider say that Gallant flat out went into GMGM's office and told him that he was not going to play the guy.

BTW, I think Vegas had Gusev in mind when they claimed Zykov. They DO want Gusev.

Its a complete lack of respect to send someone of his caliber to the NHL.

Vegas' bad GM assembled a bunch of spare parts, and couldn't get anyone to take them off his hands. Thats not Shipachyov's fault. He wasn't the spare part.

The stories you cite are absurd, and everyone know it. Its Russia-phobia at its finest. If he was Finnish, that would never be cited. But since he's Russian, he was be lazy, out of shape, could he also be enigmatic and a PP specialist? The NHL still discriminates against Russians. Yakupov wasn't wrong.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

He never wanted to come to the NHL. I don't get it. We had like a third of the Russian national team at one point. He couldn't complain about the environment. The Lightning would have a cup already if he just decided to play in the NHL.

Eh, I can respect a player wanting to stay in his native country.

 

[Cellee]

KHL is not exactly a weak league

It isn't strong either.

Isn't Nigel Dawes tearing it up?

 

[Absolut]

How did Shipachyov get a raw deal besides being sent down to the AHL? I agree that that kind of sucks but he was still making more money than anyone else skating on that team. I'm sure Vegas was sending him down because he could clear waivers and being an expansion they couldn't afford to lose anyone.

Now if the stories about him being out of shape and unable to keep up with the others in practice are being fabricated by Vegas then I can side with you. But I think it was more Gallant rather than GMGM who really had a problem with him. I think I heard their insider say that Gallant flat out went into GMGM's office and told him that he was not going to play the guy.

BTW, I think Vegas had Gusev in mind when they claimed Zykov. They DO want Gusev.

From what I saw of Ship, he was not out of shape. I don't know where that claim is coming from. He needed time to get adjusted to the speed and the rink size. Like any other Euro import. The raw deal part was that Vegas sold him on being a big part of the team, and an offensive leader. He came to the US with a non-English speaking wife who didn't know a soul in Vegas, and two young children. No support, translator, etc was provided. Once he got shipped out of Vegas to the AHL, the wife was alone and stressed. I remember something about their young child getting sick, and the wife driving around for hours trying to get medicine. I imagine she couldn't ask the store staff, nor understand the labels. Ship is skilled but soft. But it's not the hockey issues that got him out of town. I think the family was having a rough time when he was sent to the AHL. Gusev will not be coming to Vegas after what happened with Ship. Had his rights been retained by Tampa, he'd be in the NHL aready.

 

[Brazen331]

Its a complete lack of respect to send someone of his caliber to the NHL.

Vegas' bad GM assembled a bunch of spare parts, and couldn't get anyone to take them off his hands. Thats not Shipachyov's fault. He wasn't the spare part.

The stories you cite are absurd, and everyone know it. Its Russia-phobia at its finest. If he was Finnish, that would never be cited. But since he's Russian, he was be lazy, out of shape, could he also be enigmatic and a PP specialist? The NHL still discriminates against Russians. Yakupov wasn't wrong.

Please, I’m not trying to spread ethnic stereotypes here.

Maybe if he went to the AHL for a few games and stuck with it, he could have a Stanley Cup right now if he is as good as you say?

If he wasn’t the spare part and all the spare parts made it to the brink of a championship, maybe he was the missing link who could have put them over the top?

 

[JoVel]

Please, I’m not trying to spread ethnic stereotypes here.

Maybe if he went to the AHL for a few games and stuck with it, he could have a Stanley Cup right now if he is as good as you say?

If he wasn’t the spare part and all the spare parts made it to the brink of a championship, maybe he was the missing link who could have put them over the top?

Tampa got rid of Dotchin when he showed up at the camp out of shape. They suspended Drouin when he refused to play in the AHL. When will all this anti Canadian bias end?

 

[CupInSIX]

It totally depends on what kind of hockey he will have to play. I doubt Vegas is a right team for him.

The lunch pail mentality can only get you so far. Let's not act as if Gallant doesn't appreciate skill.

 

[Brazen331]

From what I saw of Ship, he was not out of shape. I don't know where that claim is coming from. He needed time to get adjusted to the speed and the rink size. Like any other Euro import. The raw deal part was that Vegas sold him on being a big part of the team, and an offensive leader. He came to the US with a non-English speaking wife who didn't know a soul in Vegas, and two young children. No support, translator, etc was provided. Once he got shipped out of Vegas to the AHL, the wife was alone and stressed. I remember something about their young child getting sick, and the wife driving around for hours trying to get medicine. I imagine she couldn't ask the store staff, nor understand the labels. Ship is skilled but soft. But it's not the hockey issues that got him out of town. I think the family was having a rough time when he was sent to the AHL. Gusev will not be coming to Vegas after what happened with Ship. Had his rights been retained by Tampa, he'd be in the NHL aready.

How do you know this? There were mistakes made on both sides in the Ship situation but I think it goes without saying that Vegas learned from the past and Gusev would have the red carpet rolled out for him, translators, whatever he wants.

Vegas was sending Pirri down to Chicago and he might be the best goal scorer they have had thus far. They are extremely paranoid about losing any assets. This notion that they gave Ship 5 million a year just to screw with him is bizarre. How do you know that Gusev is basing is future on what happened with Ship? How do you know a visit with McPhee might not change his mind.

And by the way, Tampa would most likely want to send him to Syracuse at first to get used to the smaller rink. Just look at the rosters of Vegas and Tampa. There is more opportunity for him in the desert.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Please, I’m not trying to spread ethnic stereotypes here.

Maybe if he went to the AHL for a few games and stuck with it, he could have a Stanley Cup right now if he is as good as you say?

If he wasn’t the spare part and all the spare parts made it to the brink of a championship, maybe he was the missing link who could have put them over the top?

Where is Vegas this season? Lucky run by the least talented team in the league.

 

[CupInSIX]

Where is Vegas this season? Lucky run by the least talented team in the league.

Where are they? Fighting for 1st in the Pacific.

Get a clue.

Their 4th liners have more goals and points than some of your so-called future stars.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Where are they? Fighting for 1st in the Pacific.

Get a clue.

Their 4th liners have more goals and points than some of your so-called future stars.

Fighting for first place is third place. Do you think they are a Cup Contender? If you want to see an average team that lacks the top-end talent to win a Cup, but is well coached go out in the first or second round rather than build from scratch, which they should've done last season, thats your choice. You don't get half a Stanley Cup for finishing second.

I don't think there's anything wrong with what I said. They had a lucky run. They have shown this season that they aren't as good, and most of their "stars" that aren't actually stars have seen regression in their games. Trying to act like Shipachyov wasn't given a raw deal because Vegas had a lucky run is a joke.

 

[joe dirte]

He is on a top line.

Yeah but in the KHL. There are all kinds of first line players in the KHL that wouldnt make an NHL team.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

hed be amazing here

 

[iginlafan77]

HF needs to add a KHL forum.

There is one

 

[PensandCaps]

Fighting for first place is third place. Do you think they are a Cup Contender? If you want to see an average team that lacks the top-end talent to win a Cup, but is well coached go out in the first or second round rather than build from scratch, which they should've done last season, thats your choice. You don't get half a Stanley Cup for finishing second.

I don't think there's anything wrong with what I said. They had a lucky run. They have shown this season that they aren't as good, and most of their "stars" that aren't actually stars have seen regression in their games. Trying to act like Shipachyov wasn't given a raw deal because Vegas had a lucky run is a joke.

How is it one Lucky run? Vegas is great again this year.

5th in the league in points.

20-6-3 in their last 29 games.

Damn. You couldn't be more wrong

 

[Super Cake]

Honestly, saying Vegas is the least skilled team in the league is a very ignorant thing to say.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Honestly, saying Vegas is the least skilled team in the league is a very ignorant thing to say.

Their players are so talented that almost all of them were given away for free by their teams.

 

[Brazen331]

Their players are so talented that almost all of them were given away for free by their teams.

Why are there so many complaints about the expansion draft then? All they were doing was taking players with no talent that teams were giving away for free, as you say.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Why are there so many complaints about the expansion draft then? All they were doing was taking players with no talent that teams were giving away for free, as you say.

Where are my complaints? Your team took a fringe NHL'er from my team instead of one of the best bottom six forwards in the league.

 

[Atas2000]

Yeah but in the KHL. There are all kinds of first line players in the KHL that wouldnt make an NHL team.

You don't get it. He wouldn't want to leave from being on the top line and arguably the best player in the KHL to some 3rd line in the NHL. Why would anybody in his place?

 

[Brazen331]

You don't get it. He wouldn't want to leave from being on the top line and arguably the best player in the KHL to some 3rd line in the NHL. Why would anybody in his place?

Why? To play with the best players on earth, to find out how exactly good you are. I definitely would were I him.

I can understand wanting to play in your homeland but there is no comparison between the leagues. Isn’t the KHL designed so Purin’s team wins every year?