Vegas Golden Knights have decided to get some extra firepower for this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs run. The team announced on Sunday that they have signed Russian forward Nikita Gusev to a one-year entry-level contract. Gusev, who spent the previous season in KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, can play in the postseason as he was previously on Golden Knights’ reserve list.
Gusev, who was drafted by Knights, comes to Las Vegas after he had another successful season, managing to score 17 goals and dish 65 assists which made him the league’s points leader points with 82 points. In 2018 he took home the KHL MVP trophy while winning the gold medal at the 2018 Olympics with Russia’s national team.
“He’s had some really exceptional seasons recently with his club team and he certainly performed well at the Olympics,” – said Vegas’ general manager George McPhee. “We’re delighted to have him join us.”
Nikita Gusev was drafted in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning then sent his rights to Vegas as part of the package in exchange for which the Golden Knights selected Jason Garrison in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.
According to McPhee, the organization paid close attention to Gusev ever since and he even met with the player last year to see whether he would like to play in the United States.
“Our scouts have watched this player for a couple of years now,” – he added. “They’ve corresponded with him regularly. I went over and met with him last year and he indicated he was ready to come over and play in the NHL.”
