Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
The Calgary Flames finished 2nd – only to the historically dominant Tampa Bay Lightning – in goals this past season.
While it's hard to argue they *need* more offensive firepower, that hasn't stopped GM Brad Treliving from chasing it.
Trades for Jason Zucker and, more recently, Nazem Kadri were all but finalized before falling through.
The Flames have also been exploring what's available on the free agent market, with Micheal Ferland catching the team's attention yet again.
Whether anything comes from that remains to be seen – the Flames would need to move salary – but it's clear Treliving is pretty adamant about adding another producer. Ideally a top-6er.
If that's the case, there's another name out there they should be all over: Nikita Gusev.
The 26-year-old RFA is in a contract stalemate with the Vegas Golden Knights, who are already over the salary cap with only 20 players under contract.
Gusev's rumored ask isn't even that much for a player with his talent.
I know the KHL isn't the NHL but it's a notoriously low scoring league. Gusev putting up 250 points in 206 games over the last four seasons is ridiculous.
He's coming to the NHL on a high having just recorded 82 points (17 goals, 65 assists) in 62 games. Gusev accumulated 36 more points than the 2nd leading scorer on his team, and 35 more assists than the 2nd leading setup man (Pavel Datsyuk). He also lit it up at the Worlds with 16 points in 10 games. He's really damn good.
If the Flames could acquire Gusev at a reasonable cost from the cap-strapped Knights, while also dumping Michael Frolik and Michael Stone, they might have enough money to take care of their other business while icing this top-6:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Gusev
Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm (he is the better fit on a shutdown line)
Given the situation Vegas is in, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility this dream becomes a reality.
Gusev is almost certainly going to be playing for another team come October. Let's just hope it's Calgary.
Recent posts:
The Flames were in on Nazem Kadri
Michael Frolik could be traded sooner than later
Reviewing the Flames' 2019 draft class
Giordano makes history with well-deserved Norris victory
Five pieces the Flames could use as trade bait
Three potential trade partners for the Flames
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»