The Wild entered the off-season in hopes to land a potential top-six scoring forward. But with limited cap space, and the signing of Yakov Trenin, the Wild only have under $2 million left in cap space.
Signing or acquiring a top-six forward would be pretty hard to do with that amount of cap space.
Well look no further than a KHL superstar.
According to Championat's Dmitry Storozhev, Nikita Gusev is hoping to make a return to the NHL for next season. This report came out after Gusev was spotted at the New Jersey Devils development camp on July 2.
"This story is not new at all, but Nikita Gusev is once again striving to make it to the NHL," Dmitry Storozhev said in the article. "The Russian striker, whose contract with Dynamo Moscow has come to an end, has still not decided on a place of work and still hopes to get a second (if not third) chance to prove himself in the strongest league in the world."
Gusev, 31, is one of the most prolific scorers in KHL history. He has broken records and proved everything he could ever prove in that league. He got a chance in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils and in his first season Gusev recorded 11 goals and 44 points in 66 games.
The following year, Gusev notched two goals and five points and was eventually brought in by the Florida Panthers in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic. He recorded two goals and five points in 11 games with the Panthers and returned to the KHL where he has been for the last three seasons.
After coming off a season in which he recorded 23 goals, 66 assists, and 89 points in 68 games for Moscow Dynamo, the reigning KHL MVP wants another crack at the NHL.
The 5-foot-8 winger has 17 goals, 37 assists, and 54 points in 97 career NHL games. There is no doubt his numbers he has posted in the KHL should grant a second chance in the NHL. Weather a team gives him that chance will remain to be seen but the Wild should be interested.
Gusev has shown his chemistry with Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov with the Russian national team. In the 2018 Olympics Gusev played on a line with Kaprizov. He recorded four goals and 12 points in six games for Russia. Kaprizov had five goals and nine points in six games.
Kaprizov scored the Golden Goal in the 2018 Olympics which won Russia the Gold Medal with an overtime-winning goal. Gusev was the one who passed Kaprizov the puck. Gusev scored with 55 seconds left in the game to tie to and force overtime, with an assist by Kaprizov.
If Gusev really does want to come over to the NHL again the Wild should be interested. It would not cost a lot and for a team that is still paying over $15 million to Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, cap space is limited. Giving Gusev under $1 million would be ideal.
If he preforms well you could give him another deal after the year, which would be the first year the Parise and Suter buyouts are not over $15 million. If Gusev doesn't pan out with the team, who cares. He wouldn't be costing too much and the Wild can go back to the same team they were going to be before the signing.
It's worth a shot for sure. Plus Gusev and Kaprizov's chemistry could be fun to watch in the NHL.
