Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Nikita Gusev to a PTO - Released October 6ish

[The Iceman]

in 2018-19 Gusev led St petersburgh with 82 points.
2nd on team scoring with 46 points was Barabanov.
That is a brilliant offensive season. he can be marner lite on a line with John Tavares. Pass first player.

NJ thought enough of him to sign him to a $4.5 million salary.
Free wallet. Can't complain.

 

[Pyrophorus]

With Gusev, there will be no Galch.

 

[ToneDog]

Haven't seen this guy play but worth the risk. Worst case he could be the next Malgin/Petan but let's hope not.

HEIGHT:
5'9" 175cm
WEIGHT:
163 lbs 74kg

 

[Mess]

Background story

New Jersey Devils Nikita Gusev Waived, Will Terminate Contract

By: Doug Winkey | April 9, 2021

The New Jersey Devils have waived Nikita Gusev with the intention of terminating his contract before the trade deadline on Monday. This comes after a long stretch of time where the 28-year-old Russian had not appeared in a game and wasn’t traded. Elliotte Friedman reported the move Friday morning.



Devils Terminate Nikita Gusev

2020-21 represents a massive failure for the once-valuable Gusev. He contributed just two goals and five points in 20 games while averaging 13:32 per contest. He was doing a great job driving offence with a 55.0 percent Corsi For and 3.1 relative Corsi, but he wasn’t producing the raw numbers that the Devils needed. It’s a steep drop from 2019-20 when the talented forward scored 13 goals and 44 points in 66 games.

 

[ULF_55]

Leafs needed another body for the scrimmages?

Just a spare body for training camp.

Man the Devils have been really Mickey Mouse lately.

 

[LeafChief]

Watching some Gusev highlights, he has quite the one time slap shot from the left side. Something the Leafs PP has lacked.

 

[fahad203]

Watching some Gusev highlights, he has quite the one time slap shot from the left side. Something the Leafs PP has lacked.

That is not true. Spezza has a very good hard slap shot and so does Muzzin. Even Holl has a good shot
Problem is, our PP coaches never found a way to utilize those or given them enough opportunities

Gusev will have hard time making the team, if he's on any of our PP unit, we are totally F(#*ed

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Well...he is does very well in the playoffs....

 

[4thline]

Thoughts:

Gotta think Ho-Sang is regretting his PTO decision, not even the most talented enigmatic offence only undersized wing without a contract in camp, and it's not particularly close

I have no idea what to think of his roster chances. Can he show as a legitimate top 6 player? Will we accept his warts if he does? Will he sign for something we can fit? If yes to the above, who's the odd man out?

 

[LeafChief]

That is not true. Spezza has a very good hard slap shot and so does Muzzin. Even Holl has a good shot
Problem is, our PP coaches never found a way to utilize those or given them enough opportunities

Gusev will have hard time making the team, if he's on any of our PP unit, we are totally F(#*ed

This is an uneducated post.

Spezza plays the right side on PP2.

If Muzzin or Holl are on the PP, they are playing the top of the umbrella. None of these players provide a left side of the ice one timer on the PP unless for whatever reason they have found themselves out of position.

 

[LeafChief]

Thoughts:

Gotta think Ho-Sang is regretting his PTO decision, not even the most talented enigmatic offence only undersized wing without a contract in camp, and it's not particularly close

I have no idea what to think of his roster chances. Can he show as a legitimate top 6 player? Will we accept his warts if he does? Will he sign for something we can fit? If yes to the above, who's the odd man out?

I'm thinking Ho-Sang likely knows he's going to have to sign an AHL deal with the Marlies to start. This was likely discussed but he was given the option to hold off on signing in the event that he absolutely blows management away in camp.

I'd bet an AHL deal is already penciled in.

 

[francis246]

Thoughts:

Gotta think Ho-Sang is regretting his PTO decision, not even the most talented enigmatic offence only undersized wing without a contract in camp, and it's not particularly close

I have no idea what to think of his roster chances. Can he show as a legitimate top 6 player? Will we accept his warts if he does? Will he sign for something we can fit? If yes to the above, who's the odd man out?

?? why would he regret it? If he plays well enough, he can earn a contract and be with the marlies. You never know who gets injured and maybe he earns a call up. It's an opportunity

 

[fahad203]

Thoughts:

Gotta think Ho-Sang is regretting his PTO decision, not even the most talented enigmatic offence only undersized wing without a contract in camp, and it's not particularly close

I have no idea what to think of his roster chances. Can he show as a legitimate top 6 player? Will we accept his warts if he does? Will he sign for something we can fit? If yes to the above, who's the odd man out?

Question is though, who else offered him PTOs?

Maybe no one did. Maybe the discussion was around, see if you can make the team, if you can't, then maybe Marlies to rebuild your career
Or maybe it was his agent that came to the Leafs offering his services

Leafs have shown to give players opportunities. Frankly speaking, he doesn't have to do much to make the leafs bottom 6, just play the game hard and skate hard
Something that's well within his means.

He has the potential to outplay Gabriel, Simmonds easily for a first call up from Marlies

 

[4thline]

?? why would he regret it? If he plays well enough, he can earn a contract and be with the marlies. You never know who gets injured and maybe he earns a call up. It's an opportunity

If it was his only offer and he had one foot out of the league, just happy to get an AHL spot and grind his way back up that's one thing. But if he has any kind of NHL aspirations or thoughts of winning a spot in camp- he'd be better off pretty much any where else.

Leafs wing depth clearly ahead of him:

Marner/Nylander/Kase/Spezza/Ritchie/Bunting/Mikyeyev/Engvall

In competition with, already under contract:

Simmonds/Robertson/Gabriel/Amadio/Anderson

and now Gusev

 

[francis246]

If it was his only offer and he had one foot out of the league, just happy to get an AHL spot and grind his way back up that's one thing. But if he has any kind of NHL aspirations or thoughts of winning a spot in camp- he'd be better off pretty much any where else.

this really isn't true. the bottom six isn't really set in stone. Engvall could be moved. Also you don't know who gets injured. You also have to think long term. A lot of the wingers on Toronto have expiring contracts at the end of this year. If he signs a two-year deal he could be a Maple Leafs next year. You go out there and win a spot. While it might be a long shot, is it really that impossible for him to beat out say Engvall or Robertson or maybe even Bunting?

 

[4thline]

this really isn't true. the bottom six isn't really set in stone. Engvall could be moved. Also you don't know who gets injured. You also have to think long term. A lot of the wingers on Toronto have expiring contracts at the end of this year. If he signs a two-year deal he could be a Maple Leafs next year. You go out there and win a spot. While it might be a long shot, is it really that impossible for him to beat out say Engvall or Robertson or maybe even Bunting?

Added to the post. He's coming in like 16th on our wing depth chart

 

[Pyrophorus]

Why is he not playing?

11g last season, 20 the year before?
He has always produced.

 

[francis246]

Added to the post. He's coming in like 16th on our wing depth chart

in your opinion, but you're not apart of the coaching staff. So you have no clue where they value him. If they decide to go with a 100% speed and skill type line up. He'd potentially play over Simmonds/Gabriel/Robertson/Gusev. Lets also not forget that he's already played with John Tavares before and played well in those short stints.

I think he's likely headed to the Marlies, but if he has an outstanding camp he probably could make the team.

 

[4thline]

in your opinion, but you're not apart of the coaching staff. So you have no clue where they value him. If they decide to go with a 100% speed and skill type line up. He'd potentially play over Simmonds/Gabriel/Robertson/Gusev. Lets also not forget that he's already played with John Tavares before and played well in those short stints.

I think he's likely headed to the Marlies, but if he has an outstanding camp he probably could make the team.

The only one that's my opinion or up for debate is Gusev (who is a better, more proven skill type player). The others are players the organization holds in higher regard, as demonstrated by offering them contracts.

 

[fahad203]

The only one that's my opinion or up for debate is Gusev (who is a better, more proven skill type player). The others are players the organization holds in higher regard, as demonstrated by offering them contracts.

More the reason why Sang may have the edge. What the Leafs don't need is another soft skilled player. They are better of just playing Robertsson

He has do well enough to show that he'll be a call up. They probably used Gally scenario
Or this year's Petan

 

[nuck]

Semyonov is a center right? They will have to play Gusev with the two Omsk boys a little in pre season. There is at least a mathematical chance of a Russian 3rd line although not sure if any of these guys could go into the corner and come out with a puck. I like the signing more than a Galch return as his first season he was pretty good on a truly brutal Devils team.

 

[4thline]

More the reason why Sang may have the edge. What the Leafs don't need is another soft skilled player. They are better of just playing Robertsson

They don't need another soft skilled player so the worse of the two soft skilled players on PTO's has an edge? Don't follow.

 

[ULF_55]

Thoughts:

Gotta think Ho-Sang is regretting his PTO decision, not even the most talented enigmatic offence only undersized wing without a contract in camp, and it's not particularly close

I have no idea what to think of his roster chances. Can he show as a legitimate top 6 player? Will we accept his warts if he does? Will he sign for something we can fit? If yes to the above, who's the odd man out?

I'd think two-way contracts might be offered, and NHL at minimum.

Why pay any more? Take it or leave it.

Leafs are at 47 contracts, so they won't waste them on an underserving player(s).

 

[justashadowof]

Is this the guy who Vegas signed to ELC to a lot of hype then he bolted as soon as Vegas wanted to demote him? Then New Jersey bailed on him next. This is a don't-touch-with-a-ten-foot-pole type of character regardless of his potential production.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Is this the guy who Vegas signed to ELC to a lot of hype then he bolted as soon as Vegas wanted to demote him? Then New Jersey bailed on him next. This is a don't-touch-with-a-ten-foot-pole type of character regardless of his potential production.

Different guy