Gusev is the reigning MVP of the Kontinental Hockey League. The 26-year-old left wing has played with SKA St. Petersburg since 2015-16 and this season led the KHL with 82 points (17 goals, 65 assists).
"I don't know much about him," Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said Thursday. "Golden Knights general manager] George [McPhee]*
SKA was eliminated in the KHL conference finals by CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, and TSN reported Friday that Gusev received a contract release from SKA. It was set to expire at the end of April.
Gusev was a seventh-round pick (No. 202) in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning but has not played in the NHL.
Vegas acquired Gusev in a trade with Tampa Bay during the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft in correspondence with the Golden Knights then choosing defenseman Jason Garrison.
