NHL trade grade: Devils steal Nikita Gusev from Golden Knights

The New Jersey Devils continue their strong offseason, acquiring forward Nikita Gusev from the Vegas Golden Knights.

A few days ago, New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris said he didn’t think general manager Ray Shero was done for the summer. It turns out Harris was right, as Shero acquired Nikita Gusev from the Vegas Golden Knights. This trade was first reported by Incarcerated Bob on Twitter.

The Devils are sending a 2020 third-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick to Vegas for Gusev. Additionally, New Jersey has signed Gusev, who was a restricted free agent, to a two-year deal worth an AAV of $4.5 million. That’s right about in line with what Evgeni Dadonov got from the Florida Panthers, so it’s a fair price.

Let’s take a look at this trade from both sides.

Golden Knights

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This deal, in a vacuum, is fine for Vegas. They got a third-round pick and a second-round pick for a player who has played as many games in the NHL as the guy writing this article. Gusev, as great as he is, is not a guarantee to be as good in the NHL as he was in the KHL.

That said, this trade is baffling for Vegas. They went out of their way to bring Gusev over from the KHL. It’s clear the Knights valued Gusev, as he’s someone they specifically targeted from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the expansion draft.

Yes, Vegas has cap concerns, so $4.5 million might seem pricey. But here’s the thing – Gusev has the potential to be a huge difference-maker. He’s arguably the best player in the world who has yet to play in the NHL. The KHL isn’t quite as good as the NHL, but it’s fairly close to it. Gusev led the KHL in scoring on a less than stellar team.

Why not trade Ryan Reaves, who is making $2.775 million as a fourth liner? You can find someone who brings the same elements of physicality and grit to the table for a far cheaper price. The Knights know what Reaves is – a decent fourth-line player. Though they don’t know what Gusev is, he has the potential to be a terrific NHL player. Reaves does not.

Grade: C-. Look, I get why Vegas traded Gusev. But I don’t like it. Also, the Knights have now had two relationships with Russian players, both from the KHL, end on less than ideal terms. This probably hurts their chances in the future of acquiring those kinds of players. General manager George McPhee has made some good moves, but this is not one of them.

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Devils

Gusev is a huge addition to the New Jersey Devils. Their top-six forward group was a bit sketchy, but it looks a lot better with Gusev. They will most likely put him with 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes, giving him a wing who can make plays and score goals at a decent rate. It would be a bit more ideal if Gusev was a bit more of a sniper, but it should work out well for New Jersey.

Does this trade put them in the playoff conversation? I’d say yes. I’m still skeptical of their depth and, to be honest, their top-six is at best the fourth-best in the Metropolitan Division. The Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins (by virtue of Crosby and Malkin), and Carolina Hurricanes are all better. A decent case could be made for the Philadelphia Flyers as well.

The Devils were a fringe playoff team before this trade and they are still one after it. But getting Gusev gets them closer to the postseason. They’ll still need a bit of injury luck, their defense is still a question mark even with P.K. Subban, and their goaltending tandem is a bit unproven with MacKenzie Blackwood.

That said, talent gets you into the postseason. The Devils finally have that talent on more than one forward line.

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Grade: A-. This is a risky move because, as I said earlier, Gusev has played in zero NHL games. But he’s a heck of a guy to bet on, and I’d wager he’s a top-six forward in the NHL. For the Devils, $4.5 million is an affordable price and it could wind up being a good value deal.

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