Gustav Nyquist did not have a very good 2017-18 season statistically, posting 21 goals, 19 assists and 40 points in 82 games played.There’s no doubt that Nyquist, who’s signed for one more year at $4.75 million, needs to step up production-wise, but the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan duly notes (in a locker room clean-out day article) that Nyquist owned his struggles during his final session with the media:
“I don’t think I’m happy when I’m standing here talking to you guys in April,” Nyquist said during last week’s locker clean out. “I have to find a way to be better.”
What irked Nyquist was the goals he felt were there to be had, only to be squandered away.
“I scored a little more goals this year but I still think I created enough chances to score more,” Nyquist said. “I want to produce more than I did. I’ve got to find a way here during the summer to do some things and to get better for next year and have a big season.”
I don’t know how much credit Nyquist gets for working his butt off on a more consistent basis, but the Red Wings’ coach was impressed by Nyquist’s work ethic, and I’d argue that Nyquist deserves that much:
“He and I talked about it the beginning of last season, about the importance of being totally relentless in his approach, and on a lot of nights he’s done that,” Blashill said. “He’s been one of our hardest workers on a consistent basis and one of our biggest battlers.”
In Blashill’s estimation, Nyquist could easily be closer to 30 goals next season given a bit more good fortune.
“If he gets those chances a year from now, we’re sitting at 25 or 26 goals instead of 20,” Blashill said. “(He had a) ton of good chances. The fact he’s gotten to 20 doesn’t surprise me.”
I hope that Nyquist can return to 25-goal-scoring and 50-to-60-point form. The Wings need to be “proven right” in choosing Nyquist over Tatar for consistency’s sake.
This is what Nyquist is. A 40-50 point guy and a ~20 goal scorer.
We can’t look at his near 30 goal seasons and expect that out of him. The field is littered with new guys coming in, riding a hot shooting percentage, then dropping off. AA is doing the same – more minutes, less goal production (a loss of 5-6 goals average in an 82 game schedule from last year to this year)
The best we can hope for is that Nyq strikes it lucky next year, scores like a 1st line winger, then Kenny fleeceds another team in giving up a cadre of picks for him. Again.
I figured if we traded Tats, Nyquist would have a strong finish to the year in response. If we had traded Nyquist, Tatar would have had the strong finish to the year, as they reacted to being split up. I’d love to see Gus continue into next year playing hard and scoring ~30 goals, but I just don’t think this guy is capable of playing at that level for 82 games.
He’s probably up to his potential, but he would be better with a better center. Z is done, he should not be a No.1 center
Gus “is what he is”, I don’t think he’s a guy you can bank on scoring 25+ a year. He raised expectations early on with the high shooting percentage and a stronger supporting cast. If the talent around him improves we may see an uptick in his production.