“If you want, Gusev can be our best player” – Rotenberg

Head Coach S.K.A. Romain Rotenberg after playing with “Motorist” (3:1) did not rule out a future return to the striker’s club Nikita Gusev and also noted the retired striker’s class Pavel Datsyuk .

Last season, 30-year-old Gusev played for SKA and scored 35 points (10+25) in 31 regular season games and 16 points (7+9) in 16 playoff games. Now the player is in free agent status.

Datsyuk as part of SKA in 2017 became the champion of Russia and the owner of the Gagarin Cup. At the end of the 2017/18 season, he became the Continental Cup owner and Russian Championship bronze medalist with SKA. The last club of the hockey player is Avtomobilist (2019-21).

“Nikita Gusev is still in touch,” spoke on the phone. We are still waiting for it. He has done a lot for our organization and for the Russian team. Personally, I believe he can still help our hockey and the SKA. Details related to physics and speed are fixable. With his hockey mentality, you have to be where the puck is coming, not where it already is. If you wish, he can be the best player we have. I hope we succeed, but time will tell.

We have very good relations with Pavel Datsyuk. He is a great player, an example for the boys. We watch his highlights all the time. In puck selection, he’s always been the best. His talent lives on everywhere: in the KHL and in the NHL. Before serious games we don’t communicate, and after the game, of course, we exchange views,” Rotenberg said.

SKA picked up their 18th win in 20 games of the season and with 37 points continues to confidently lead the Western Conference table, ahead of second-placed Dynamo by 8 points. “Avtomobilist” after the defeat in St. Petersburg lost the first position in the East, skipping “Metallurg”.