Former NHLer Nikita Gusev breaks KHL single-season point record

The 31-year-old broke Sergei Mozyakin’s record of 85 points that he set with Metallurg Magnitogorsk during the 2016-17 season.

Gusev currently has 23 goals and 63 assists heading in their finale on Monday against CSKA Moscow. He is just two assists from matching his own record for most assists in a single season (63), a milestone he reached with SKA St. Petersburg in the 2018-19 campaign.

Gusev has been a notable scorer in Russia over the last several years, and was a key contributor in helping the Olympic Athletes of Russia win Olympic gold in Pyeongchang in 2018. The Moscow native led all skaters with 16 points, and was named the best forward in the tournament.

He was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Draft. However, it was not until 2019 that Gusev came to the league. His rights were traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, with Gusev finally signing an entry-level contract two years later. Vegas then traded Gusev to the New Jersey Devils, signing a two-year, $9 million deal with the Devils.

Gusev had a solid rookie season, scoring 44 points in 66 games during the COVID-shortened season. However, he could not find the same level of production in the 2020-21 season, and was put on unconditional waivers for the purpose of having his contract terminated in April of that year. The Florida Panthers took a chance on Gusev, signing him for the remainder of the season, where he scored five points in his last 11 games.

The following season, Gusev returned to his home country, rejoining St. Petersburg. In 97 NHL games, he scored 17 goals and 37 assists.

The two-time Olympic medalist has scored 502 points in 526 KHL games, adding another 96 points in 96 playoff games.