Jackets, Nyquist shared mutual interest
There were other options.
Multiple teams inquired about signing Gustav Nyquist on Monday, when NHL free agency opened, but the former Detroit Red Wing and San Jose Shark wanted to be a Blue Jacket.
“They were a team that was interested throughout the process,” said Nyquist, 29, a top six–caliber forward who signed a four-year contract worth $22 million. “It was a pretty stressful process. There were a lot of decisions to be made in a pretty fast, pretty short notice — so, I’m really excited that I ended up here and I can’t wait to get going.”
Nyquist made his NHL debut in 2011 with Detroit, playing the past eight seasons with the Red Wings. He was initially viewed as one of their next great Swedish stars, but his career path hasn’t reached the heights of, say, Henrik Zetterberg.
He has become a solid contributor, though. After breaking through with a career-high 28 goals in 2014, Nyquist has added 40-50 points a season and set career highs this past season with 38 assists and 60 points for Detroit and San Jose.
The past three years hadn’t been a lot of fun, though. Detroit struggled to rebuild after its quartercentury streak of qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Red Wings traded Nyquist to the Sharks near the trade deadline in February.
Despite having to leave his pregnant wife, Danielle, in Detroit as she approached her due date, Nyquist waived his no-trade clause and approved the deal, hoping to win the Cup.
“It was a little bit different situation for me,” he said.
It wasn’t easy, but Nyquist made it back for the birth of his daughter, Charlotte, flying back to Detroit after a second-round game and then rejoining the Sharks in Denver in a span of 24 hours.
In all, he added 11 points on a goal and 10 assists in the Sharks’ postseason run, which ended in the Western Conference finals.
“We covered him all year,” said Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, referring to his staff of pro scouts. “He was one of the players we targeted at the deadline, but he ended up going to San Jose at the time. He can play right side or left side and he’s a left-handed shot. I think that fills a need for us and we like the player … a lot.”
Nyquist was impressed by what the Jackets pulled off in the first round of the playoffs, a stunning sweep of the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning, and hopes to keep that vibe going.
Three key players left Monday as free agents — Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky and Matt Duchene — but Nyquist isn’t afraid of the challenge ahead. It’s part of the reason he’s now a Jacket.
“I’m sure the media will talk about (the departures), but there’s going to be opportunities for other guys, and I’m one of the guys here that is going to come in and try to fill some of those holes,” Nyquist said. “I have no doubt in my mind that we’re going to be a really good team.”