Nikita Gusev became one of the headliners of the current off-season in the Continental Hockey League. In July, the Russian hockey superstar became a Dynamo Moscow player, where he reunited with his friend coach Alexei Kudashov. Previously, Gusev was connected with another club, SKA, with an eminent mentor. The striker defended the colors of the St. Petersburg team last season in the KHL, but following its results, he agreed with the army team on the early termination of the contract, which seems to have been an inevitable result of the situation that occurred in the final of the Western Conference of the playoffs.
In an interview with Sport, Nikita Gusev shared his impressions about the beginning of a new chapter in his career, spoke about the decision of the SKA coaching staff to withdraw him from the main team, and also answered the question of whether he still expects to return to the National Hockey League.
«There were other offers, but I chose Dynamo»
— How was the adaptation in the new club?
— The mood is excellent. There is a lot of work ahead, I think only about it. Adaptation in the team is going well. I communicate with all the guys, not only with Igor Ozhiganov, with whom I previously played in SKA.In this regard, I'm doing well.
— Were there any special rituals for you to be accepted by a new team?
— We have a hard work going on now. No time for rituals.
— I'm happy with everything, everything is fine here. There was an option with the transition to the “Dynamo”. I was offered to sign a contract with this club, we discussed all the conditions and agreed. In any club, wherever I go, I always want to win. I came to Dynamo for victories, and not just like that. I will try to help the team as much as I can.
— Were there any other suggestions?
—Yes, of course. And I decided to continue my career at Dynamo.
— One of the factors in your decision to sign a contract with the Blue and Whites was your desire to play in Moscow. Is this true?- There is a lot of stuff in the press. But no one knows what was the priority for me. And no one will know.
— Why?
— I chose for myself what I saw fit. To be comfortable for me and the team.
— How was the first dialogue with Alexei Kudashov?
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We know each other well, I have known him for a long time. We talked before signing the contract. Everything is as usual. In communication with Alexei Nikolaevich, I never had any problems. As for what role he wants me to play, you have to ask the coach himself. Now I'm focused only on my work.
«It was unpleasant when they left SKA»
—Dynamo will start the new KHL season with a match against SKA. Will games with Petersburgers become important for you?
— All games are important. And starting, and second, and third … Each. We will tune in to every match.
— Is there no desire to prove to SKA that in St. Petersburg they were wrong towards you ?
— And what is wrong? The fact that journalists write what they see fit? It may be unfair, but this is the work of the media.
— Why didn't SKA succeed last season?
— It's not a question for me. We were unable to win the series against CSKA and advance to the next round of the playoffs. the midst of the finals of the West. How did you react to this?- Calmly. If the club decided that it would be better for the team, then it should be so.
— But were you surprised by this decision?
— Every player wants to play more, win more. Naturally, it was unpleasant for me when I was taken out of the squad. But there's nothing you can do about it. What was, is gone.
— Some media sources indicated that you allegedly violated the sports regime as the reasons for what happened.
— I will repeat once again: journalists are doing their job. If they want to write such materials, then let them write. I don't forbid anyone. I'm doing my job.
— But everyone is interested in your response to these rumors.
— I have no reaction to this matter .
— Did you already understand then that you would part with SKA? >- Doesn't matter. You will never know the whole truth anyway: neither from me, nor from the other side. I don't see the point in digging into it. The season has already ended. I don't think I played badly. I helped the team as much as I could.
— That is, you personally let go of this situation?
— I did not accept
«The NHL is still an open chapter for me»
— Usually you prepare for the season individually. Now you are together with Dynamo at the training camp. Comfortable?- Even before I went to the training camp with Dynamo, I studied individually. It seems to me that I arrived at the club in a good condition. But I also took a break. Now I continue to prepare with the team, that's all.
— In recent years, there have been regular discussions about whether it is really necessary, in preparation for the season, to start training camps one and a half to two months before the start of the championship and how useful the emphasis on strength exercises is, rather than game ones.
— I have a valid contract with the club. If I was told to do this or that work, then I will do it. I don't know if this is correct or not. Not a question for me. There are tasks — you need to complete them. But I feel great.
— There have been talks about your move to Dynamo for a long time, but you signed a contract only in mid-July.
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Let's just say I had a vacation. After that, I joined the team at the training camp. And I thought about the transition exactly as much time as I considered necessary.
— Was this pause connected with the expectation of options from overseas?
< br> — Yes, I was waiting for offers from the NHL. But at the moment I did not see anything interesting.
Is the NHL still an open chapter for you?
— Yes, of course. Let's see what happens next summer. Now I'm going step by step. So far, I have a season in the KHL ahead of me.
— Is there a feeling of dissatisfaction due to the fact that in the NHL you were not allowed to express yourself to the fullest?
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— Actually, no. I am quite calm. As he could show himself overseas, so he could. I do not think that I was put forward requirements that would prevent me from playing. All requirements were adequate, I tried to fulfill them. There are many differences between the NHL and the KHL. In some ways our league is better, in some ways the NHL is better. There are a lot of different nuances, but I do not want to delve into them. Who cares — let him try to play here and there. I am happy with everything. I do not regret anything.