Nikita Gusev reportedly suspended by own team for second time this year
Nikita Gusev tried very hard to find an NHL team to sign him before the start of the 2022-23 season. After finding no takers, the 30-year-old re-signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, a team he's had a long relationship with. Despite putting up excellent offensive numbers this season (49 points in 37 games), Gusev did not play for the team at all from January 30th to February 16th, although neither party would say why. Now, it's being reported that Gusev was suspended by SKA during that time, and is now suspended again, even though his team is in the middle of a playoff series and he's their leading post season scorer.
Gusev was benched for most of game three of SKA's current playoff series against CSKA Moscow, and Match TV reports he will not dress at all for the fourth game.
The report from Match TV states the relationship between Gusev and SKA remains good, but Gusev is sitting due to issues with alcohol.
Gusev played in 10 post season games so far this year for SKA, and has 5 goals and 7 assists. SKA St. Petersburg against CSKA Moscow is a huge rivalry in the KHL, and one where both teams want their best players to play. Match TV reached out to SKA for comment on the report, but was brushed aside.
After not being able to find an NHL team to sign him, Gusev inked a two-year deal with St. Petersburg at the beginning of this season. He played a total of 97 regular season games in the NHL between the New Jersey Devils and the Florida Panthers from 2019 to 2021.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Jason Robertson | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Chandler Stephenson | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Sebastian Aho | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jalen Chatfield | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Mikael Granlund | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Roope Hintz | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Wyatt Johnston | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brandon Montour | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| William Nylander | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Mitch Marner | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jaden Schwartz | - | 2 | 2 | |
| John Tavares | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jamie Benn | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Evgeny Dadonov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Yanni Gourde | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Pontus Holmberg | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Fraser Minten | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Ryan Poehling | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jack Roslovic | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Daniel Sprong | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 19 | 16 | 3 | - | 32 | |
Hurricanes | 18 | 14 | 4 | - | 28 | |
Capitals | 18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 27 | |
Wild | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 27 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Devils | 21 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 17 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 19 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 25 | |
Stars | 18 | 12 | 6 | - | 24 | |
Golden Knights | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 24 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||