San Jose Sharks: Predicting odds that top free agents re-sign
By Justin Fried
3. Gustav Nyquist
A late-season addition to the Sharks roster, Gustav Nyquist took some time to get acquainted with his new team in San Jose. After spending eight seasons in Detroit, the Red Wings moved him at the deadline to a Sharks team gearing up for a playoff run.
While Nyquist didn’t provide quite the spark they were looking for, it was nice to see him settle in and come along late in the season. Playing on playoff standout Logan Couture‘s wing, Nyquist finished the season strong and concluded his brief Sharks tenure with 22 points in 39 combined games.
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However, much like Donskoi, the numbers just don’t add up for a potential return next season.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Sharks haven’t “closed the door” on a potential Nyquist return but it does seem highly unlikely given the team’s cap situation.
He was good in spurts last season and his chemistry with his linemates seemed to grow, but he’ll likely be looking for a long-term deal and that’s just not something the Sharks are expected to commit to.
Perhaps his friend and fellow-countryman Erik Karlsson’s re-signing could serve as a selling point, but even so, the odds of Nyquist returning next season are slim to none.