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Vegas Golden Knights April Fools: Top 3 players that got away

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 06: David Perron #57 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 06, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Blues 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 06: David Perron #57 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 06, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Blues 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Nikita Gusev #97 of the New Jersey Devils smiles during warm ups before the game against the New York Islanders at Prudential Center on January 07, 2020.
Nikita Gusev #97 of the New Jersey Devils smiles during warm ups before the game against the New York Islanders at Prudential Center on January 07, 2020. /

3. Nikita Gusev, LW

How could we not include Nikita Gusev on this list?!

One of the most talented and productive players to have graced the KHL, Gusev was meant to be the secret weapon for the Golden Knights in 2019-20.

However, after locking franchise center William Karlsson down to an eight-year, $47,200,000 contract, Vegas needed to shed some bodies off the roster in order to become cap compliant.

And, despite trading defenseman Colin Miller to the Buffalo Sabres and forward Erik Haula to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Golden Knights still needed to make one more move.

Hence, Nikita Gusev’s Vegas Golden Knights career was over before it ever really started.

It was well documented at the time that Gusev had a certain amount of money he was targeting, and the Golden Knights couldn’t nor did they want to pay over the odds for an unknown commodity in the NHL.

Jesper Bratt of the New Jersey Devils (L) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues at 8:38 of the first period and is joined by Nikita Gusev (R) at the Prudential Center on March 06, 2020.
Jesper Bratt of the New Jersey Devils (L) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues at 8:38 of the first period and is joined by Nikita Gusev (R) at the Prudential Center on March 06, 2020. /

As a result, and following a summer that became known as the ‘Chronicles of Gusev,’ the Knights pulled the trigger on a trade that angered many, sending Gusev to the New Jersey Devils for a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round selection in 2021.

Gusev also got what he wanted, immediately signing a two-year, $9 million contract with the Devils who had significantly upgraded their roster during the off-season having also traded for defenseman P.K. Subban while selecting franchise center Jack Hughes with the 1st overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

While this year was a dumpster fire for the Devils, Gusev proved he could flourish in the NHL and he was second on the team in points prior to the hiatus, putting up 13 goals and 31 assists for 44 points in 66  games.

Not bad at all considering the lack of help Gusev had around him, and the Russian’s exploits only further rubbed salt into the wound for the Golden Knights who struggled to generate much secondary scoring all year.

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