New Jersey Devils forward Nikita Gusev will be a healthy scratch Wednesday but will be given a special learning opportunity with club legend Patrik Elias in the press box.
"(Elias) knows the difference between the leagues. He knows the differences of coming over as a European player to here," head coach John Hynes said Tuesday. "... Patty was a cerebral offensive player, but he was very good on both sides of the puck."
"... Because Patty's been around with us so long, he knows how we want to play and he knows some of the adjustments it takes for a young player."
The 27-year-old Gusev led the KHL in scoring last season and has three goals and one assist in nine games to kick off his NHL career.
"It's been a lot of hockey for him since he's come in," Hynes added. "... He's a veteran player with tons of experience, but he's a rookie in the NHL. That's something we want to help him work through."
Elias spent 20 seasons with the Devils between 1995 and 2016 and played in the Russian Superleague during the lockout in 2004-05. He amassed 408 goals and 1025 points in 1240 games with New Jersey.
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