Gustav Nyquist enjoying a hot streak with the Detroit Red Wings

Gus Nyquist is heating up of late. In fact, he is boiling at the moment for the Detroit Red Wings in the absence of injured Anthony Mantha.

Gustav Nyquist has it going for the Detroit Red Wings notching 9 points in his last five games for the Detroit Red Wings. While Anthony Mantha is in the lineup, Nyquist, for the most part, is penciled on the second line with Frans Nielsen and Andreas Athanasiou.

That second line was absolutely rolling, playing most nights as the Detroit Red Wings best unit. I am wondering how much Nyquist had to do with that. Since Mantha has been injured the Wings have needed help on the top line.

Someone needs to play with Larkin and Nyquist was elevated to play with Larks and Abby. Suddenly Dylan Larkin has found a spark again. The line has been firing on all cylinders again while the second line is still good, they haven’t been “AS” good with Thomas Vanek filling in for Goose.

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Andreas Athanasiou has recorded just one goal over his last five games. He had three in the previous five playing with Gus. Now, Frans Nielsen, on the other hand, has been on fire. He scored a hat trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he banged one in against the Bruins. He has totaled 4 goals over his last five games.

Vanek has struggled this season only having 10 points on the year and often finding himself on the fourth line playing 12-14 minutes a night. Since he has been elevated due to injuries in the lineup, he’s recorded 3 points.

Vanek was brought in to help guide the Wings on the power-play, but he seems to of hit a wall. He desperately needs to see a few pucks go into the net for his confidence to return. Sometimes goal scorers grip the stick a bit tighter while they are pressing. Once he sees the puck go in once or twice, it might start to come a bit easier for him. I expected Vanek to be around the 25 goal mark once again this season. Right now he will be doing all he can to break 20.

Gustav Nyquist being a streaky scorer is nothing new. Throughout his career, he’s been able to score in bunches and other times goes through long stretches coming up empty. Right now he is feeling it. I wonder if Ken Holland is getting any phone calls on Gus?

Holland will expect a “Tatar” type deal. Let’s face it, he won’t find anyone who will be willing to give up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick for a rental even though Nyquist is a “more complete” player than Tatar in my opinion. That being said, Tatar is having an excellent year in Montreal gaining 23 points in 29 games for the Habs.

I would hope Holland could net a 1st and 3rd for Nyquist. I wonder if Holland would entertain bringing back Nyquist this summer on say a three-year deal around 5 per? He is only 29 years old, and we need to remember Vanek will not be coming back.

I assume Nyquist will be looking for a six-year-deal and I would not be comfortable with that. Something to think about though if he was willing to take a shorter deal. He has been thriving in a Zetterberg “type” role this season.