The Detroit Red Wings are going into the 2016-17 season without Pavel Datsyuk. He’s been such a big part of the team for years, and replacing him will be no easy task. One player that will need a step up his game is Gustav Nyquist, as he has been on the verge of stardom for a couple of years.
The Red Wings have always been known to produce quality talent from their minor leagues. Nyquist was no exception. His debut in the NHL was met with much excitement among the Detroit Red Wings faithful. He’s done nothing but produce since his first full season in the league.
Nyquist has a knack for finding the back of the net. During the 2013-14 season, Nyquist scored 28 goals in only 57 games. It was an impressive debut for Nyquist, who garnered some Calder Trophy attention. He continued his goal onslaught the following season, netting 27.
While he showed promise the first two seasons, Nyquist slowed down quite a bit during the 2015-16 campaign. His goal numbers were way down. He only recorded 17 for the entire season, a far cry from his previous year’s totals. What had happened to Nyquist? That’s what many Detroit fans were asking themselves.
With the departure of Datsyuk, Nyquist will need to step up his game considerably. He’s going to be looked at as a leader in the locker room, along with Henrik Zetterberg and Nick Kronwall. His ability to find the back of the net needs to be on full display because he is without question one of the most talented scorers on the Red Wings.
It’s possible that Nyquist finds himself on a line with emerging superstar, Dylan Larkin, and Zetterberg. Although, it’s also conceivable that he pairs on the second or third line to add punch to the secondary units.
Detroit fans can’t get discouraged by the poor 2015-16 showing of Gustav Nyquist. He’s going to rebound in a big way for the Red Wings, regardless of what line he finds himself on. There is just too much talent, and at the age of 27, he’s still just reaching his prime.
It’s impossible to tell how the career of Gustav Nyquist will go at this point. He’s got all of the skill to be a 30-goal scorer. He can’t regress any more than he did last season, and the only way to go is up. The Detroit Red Wings are a favorite to make the playoffs, and Gustav Nyquist will be a major factor in that.
Follow Daniel James Gentile on Twitter @dgentleman9288