Confirmed Trade: [VGK/NJD] Gusev to NJ for a 3rd round ('20) and 2nd round ('21)

VoidCreature

Before you see the light, you must die.
Mar 6, 2015
6,846
4,130
New Jersey
He’s flashed some individual skill but his passing game has been nonexistent so far. He’s isolated too easily.
 

Porter Stoutheart

We Got Wood
Jun 14, 2017
14,887
11,267
NJ is probably sufficiently motivated to work with him. They'll want to take the approach of teaching him and being patient. It will just depend then on his own approach and how ready he is to put in the work.
 
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ViD

#CBJNeedHugs
Sponsor
Apr 21, 2007
29,713
19,164
Blue Jackets Area
Should have definitely let him play against Tampa, he’d be double motivated to play hard against his best friend.

not letting him play this particular game is a grave mistake by the Devils.

Sit Subban, Simmonds, Wood or any other liabilities
 
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Blender

Registered User
Dec 2, 2009
51,383
45,278
No European UFA will ever want to sign with NJ after the way Goose has been treated.
He's been given every reasonable opportunity to perform and has been played on every line at some point. Contracts are a two-way street, it's on Gusev to play well as much as it is on the team to give him a fair chance, which he has been given. He's being sat because he needs to work on things and they want him to observe a game to watch others to see things he should be doing.
 
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AfroThunder396

[citation needed]
Jan 8, 2006
39,118
23,141
Miami, FL
Rofl, the team benched a superior player in Bratt and a prized prospect in Boqvist before letting Goose sit. He did this to himself.

There's no question he's an offensive dynamo. When the puck is on his stick and he's within 30 feet of the opposing net, he's the most dangerous player on the ice. But that's literally it.

It's not a matter of not being good enough defensively, he's an active detriment to the team when he's on the ice.

I don't think this tutoring session with Elias is really going to be informative in any way, but I'm fascinated to see how Gusev responds. Is he going to pout and run back to Russia, or will he make an active attempt to become a better player?

We turned Kovalchuk into a quality to-way penalty killing forward. We don't need Gusev to even do that, we just need him to not play like a paraplegic in his own zone.

He can still be a long-term player in the NHL, and NJ desperately needs scoring depth. It's just a matter of whether Goose is willing to put in the work or not.
 

Porter Stoutheart

We Got Wood
Jun 14, 2017
14,887
11,267
It sounds like NJ recognizes their investment... the quotes from Hynes are basically perfect on that front, they want to do everything in their power to help get Gusev up to speed and unlock his potential at the NHL level. That's completely different from the sink-or-swim approach Vegas appeared to take with Shipachyov. But the real key is still how the player is going to approach it. Nobody could blame them for just packing up and going back to their KHL comfort zone. Shipachyov did. But if Gusev is willing to buy into NJ's efforts and apply himself, he'll turn out fine. He didn't get where he did in the KHL and international play just by chance. He has the skills and smarts to play in the NHL if he really wants to put in the work.
 

Skinnyjimmy08

WorldTraveler
Mar 30, 2012
22,499
11,969
No European UFA will ever want to sign with NJ after the way Goose has been treated.

Like as in given a crap load of money before setting foot on ice?... NJ isn't doing anything bad to him, his play just isn't good
 

Zajacs Bowl Cut

Lets Go Baby
Nov 6, 2005
71,907
44,457
PA
No European UFA will ever want to sign with NJ after the way Goose has been treated.

what the hell?

He was handed a top 6 role (including a game or two on the top line IIRC) and he has shown that he is utterly clueless when he doesn't have the puck. His CF% is like 34% for the year. That is unacceptable. Maybe he should be playing better to be "treated better"?
 

HanSolo

DJ Crazy Times
Apr 7, 2008
97,082
31,585
Las Vegas
what the hell?

He was handed a top 6 role (including a game or two on the top line IIRC) and he has shown that he is utterly clueless when he doesn't have the puck. His CF% is like 34% for the year. That is unacceptable. Maybe he should be playing better to be "treated better"?
Y'all don't recognize a Shipachyov joke when you see one.
 

SlapshotTheMovie

Registered User
Jan 18, 2013
3,101
1,174
he broke in a D+1 so four years after ELC starts his UFA years.

Look, you just wanted to troll about no player wanting to willingly play in NJ. You pulled the same routine in some thread about a MTL player saying no one would sign there who had options. It's just your routine. You were wrong, your trolling mocking narrative is silly, just accept you got caught and move on.
If you can't name a decent player that has signed with your team in the entire salary cap era how is it trolling? It is just fact.
 

Better Call Sal

Salnalysis
Nov 24, 2011
25,130
37,232
New Jersey
If you can't name a decent player that has signed with your team in the entire salary cap era how is it trolling? It is just fact.

Yes, because Free Agency = success. As a Ranger fan, surely you know.

Back on topic, Gusev was always going to have an adjustment period. Anyone who didn't expect him to struggle to playing on a smaller surface, giving him less room to do his thing offensvely, while also not being that adept defensively was kidding themselves.

The team knows he is a worthwhile investment. Give him time. He could use a night in the pressbox.
 
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NinjaKick

life as a leafs fan
Dec 5, 2018
2,695
3,083
Toronto
the good news? it's still early and Gusev has plenty of time left to adjust.
I really like how the Devils are sitting Goose with Elias... he needs to keep his ears open. Elias had a very underrated 2 way game... a true Devils Legend. I think he'll make a good coach one day.
 

Turin

Registered User
Feb 27, 2018
22,076
25,493
Being in the same room as somebody who was good defensively probably won’t make a player good defensively. If all his coaches for the last 20 years couldn’t reach him, I’m not sure teatime with Patrik is going to do much.
 

Zajacs Bowl Cut

Lets Go Baby
Nov 6, 2005
71,907
44,457
PA
Being in the same room as somebody who was good defensively probably won’t make a player good defensively. If all his coaches for the last 20 years couldn’t reach him, I’m not sure teatime with Patrik is going to do much.

yeah because if there is anything the KHL is known for producing, its defensive prowess for its skilled forwards
 

Better Call Sal

Salnalysis
Nov 24, 2011
25,130
37,232
New Jersey
Being in the same room as somebody who was good defensively probably won’t make a player good defensively. If all his coaches for the last 20 years couldn’t reach him, I’m not sure teatime with Patrik is going to do much.

Don't think anyone is expecting this to be cured off of one game being scratched and one conversation.

But getting some advice from a fellow European who succeeded on the smaller ice surface can't hurt either.
 

nucksauce

Registered User
Oct 30, 2013
851
219
Being in the same room as somebody who was good defensively probably won’t make a player good defensively. If all his coaches for the last 20 years couldn’t reach him, I’m not sure teatime with Patrik is going to do much.

Coach to Player and Player to Player Relationships are extremely different. Elias has the cup pedigree and the stats to back up what he says to Gusev, very little coaches have the same accolades. Gusev will listen, he knows he has too now.

I agree this is something that may take time(years) to become a part of Gusev's current skill set - the important thing is that he focuses on his defensive positioning and hustle back into the play. The defensive knowledge, stick checking and body positioning will come in time.

More players in teams organization should do this with the youth and struggling players in the system. Good job Devils
 

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