Danil Gushchin

Danil Vadimovich Gushchin is a Russian professional ice hockey right winger for the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League, while under contract to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. Selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL entry draft, he made his NHL debut with them in 2023.

Playing career

Gushchin played and developed as a youth within his hometown in Moscow, featuring with both HC Dynamo Moscow and HC CSKA Moscow junior programs before opting to move to North America to play with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League.
After his second season with the Lumberjacks, Gushchin was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the third-round, 76th overall, of the 2020 NHL entry draft. Gushchin signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks on 21 May 2021. Opting to play major junior hockey, Gushchin joined the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League for the 2021–22 season after he was previously selected 4th overall in the 2020 CHL Import Draft.
In his first full professional season in 2022–23 season, Gushchin was initially assigned to AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, and posted an impressive 22 goals and 45 points through 67 regular season games. He was recalled and made his NHL debut with San Jose on 1 April 2023, in a 7–2 win over the Arizona Coyotes, while scoring a goal.
In the 2024–25 season, Gushchin made the opening night roster for the San Jose Sharks and made 12 appearances adding one assist. Assigned to the Barracuda, Gushchin ranked third in team scoring in registering a career high 28 goals and 51 points through 56 regular season games. He added 1 goal in four playoff games.
On 25 July 2025, as a pending restricted free agent with the Sharks, Gushchin was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Oskar Olausson.