Nikita Gusev
Nikita Andreyevich Gusev (; born 8 July 1992), nicknamed "Goose", is a Russian professional ice hockey forward for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Gusev was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round, 202nd overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, and played parts of 2 seasons in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils and the Florida Panthers. Playing career. Professional. SKA Saint Petersburg. On 14 July 2017, Gusev signed a two-year contract extension with Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) powerhouse club SKA Saint Petersburg. In the 2018–19 season, his last season  under contract with SKA, Gusev posted a career and league high 82 points, leading the KHL with 65 assists. He continued his offensive dominance in the post-season, contributing with 19 points in 18 games before suffering a conference final defeat for the second consecutive season to CSKA Moscow. Through nine seasons in the KHL, Gusev is 10th all-time with 332 points in 391 games. New Jersey Devils. On 21 June 2017, with the selection of Jason Garrison by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, the Knights received from the Tampa Bay Lightning the rights  to Gusev, along with a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft as compensation for the Golden Knights agreeing to select Garrison. On 14 April 2019, Gusev signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, instantly joining the club in the midst of their first round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, remaining on the Golden Knights extended squad without playing for the club. On 29 July 2019, Gusev as a restricted free agent was traded by the Golden Knights to the  New Jersey Devils in exchange for a third-round pick in 2020 and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He immediately agreed to terms with the Devils on a two-year, $9 million contract with an average annual value of $4,500,000. In the following 2019–20 season, Gusev made an instant offensive impact with the rebuilding Devils, leading the club with 31 assists and placing second in points with 44 through 66 games before the remainder of the regular season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Devils missing the postseason, Gusev returned  to action in the delayed 2020–21 season, and struggled to replicate the previous season's campaign offensively, posting just two goals and five points through 20 games. On 9 April 2021, the Devils placed Gusev on unconditional waivers in order to mutually terminate the remainder of his contract. Florida Panthers. On 11 April 2021, Gusev signed as a free agent to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Florida Panthers. Return to SKA. As a free agent over the summer and approaching the season, Gusev opted to continue his career in the NHL, signing a Professional Tryout contract  in accepting an invitation to attend the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp on a on September 18, 2021. Gusev was later released from his tryout on October 5, 2021. with no other NHL teams expressing an interest he opted to return to the KHL, with his former team SKA Saint Petersburg. International play. Gusev has played for Russia at the World Junior Championships and World Championships. He was a member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team at the 2018 Winter Olympics. On 23 January 2022, Gusev was named to the roster to represent Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the  2022 Winter Olympics.