After a failed attempt to keep his NHL career alive with an unsuccessful professional tryout with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it looks like Nikita Gusev is headed back to Russia. A report from Sport-Express.ru states SKA St. Petersburg is planning to sign Gusev to a new deal, but will need to move out another player before that can happen in order to stay under the KHL's salary cap.
Gusev, a star in the KHL and an Olympic hero in Russia, first came to the NHL with the New Jersey Devils despite being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He looked good in his first full season, recording 44 points (13G, 31A) is 66 games. However, he then struggled to keep his offense going. He finished last season with the Florida Panthers, playing 20 regular season games with the team. He did not suit up at all in the playoffs.
While Gusev's salary in the KHL will likely be standard, teams in the league can prop up a player's pay through bonuses that don't count towards the cap. Gusev played parts of four seasons with St. Petersburg before deciding to come to the NHL.
Source:
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