Washington Capitals 2017 Season Review: Evgeny Kuznetsov
Evgeny Kuznetsov cemented his status as a future building block of the Washington Capitals.
Going into the 2016-17 season, Washington Capitals fans had every reason to expect big things from Evgeny Kuznetsov. However, the center got off to a very rough start to his season. From October to November, Kuznetsov had just nine points in 21 games. With 10 points in 14 games in December, the Capitals center ended 2016 with 19 points in 35 games. Not bad, but certainly a step down from 77 points in 82 games, his numbers from the 2015-16 season.
2017 is when things turned around from Kuznetsov. He had 40 points in 47 games in 2017, ranking third on the team. Kuznetsov continued his hot streak in the playoffs with 10 points in 13 games.
All stats, unless otherwise noted, are at even strength. Corsi and goals for numbers are adjusted. Stats courtesy of Hockey Analysis.
2016-17 Stats
Boxcar
| Goals | Assists | Points | PP points | 5v5 points | Plus-minus | Penalty Minutes | Blocked Shots | Hits | TOI per game |
| 19 | 40 | 59 | 14 | 42 | 18 | 46 | 18 | 57 | 16:57 |
Rates:
| 5v5 Goals/60 | 5v5 assists/60 | 5v5 primary assists/60 | 5v5 points/60 | 5v5 iCorsi/60 | PP goals/60 | PP assists/60 | PP points/60 |
| 0.79 | 1.31 | 0.79 | 2.10 | 13.06 | 1.11 | 4.07 | 5.18 |
Possession:
| CorsiFor% | Rel. CorsiFor60 | Rel. CorsiAgainst60 | Rel. CorsiFor% | GoalsFor% | Rel. GoalsFor60 | Rel. Goals Against60 | Rel. GoalsFor% |
| 52.2 | -0.05 | 0.48 | -0.2 | 59.8 | 0.04 | 0.15 | -1.6 |
The Good
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Considering how bad Kuznetsov’s 2016-17 season started, he had a pretty darn good season. He emerged as a very solid defensive center, easing the burden on Nicklas Backstrom and the top line. Kuznetsov inevitably saw regression from his 2015-16 season, but was still extremely productive. Most of his struggles can be attributed to an ankle injury.
After going invisible in the postseason last season, Kuznetsov was one of the Capitals’ best players in April and May. He saw a noticeable improvement in shooting the puck, with his iCorsi60 rising up to 13.06 per 60 minutes at even strength.
Off the ice, Kuznetsov’s optimism and energy is awesome. Capitals fans were concerned with him after last postseason, when he seemed upset and off his game. But it seems those tough times were good for him. Now Kuznetsov is eternally sunny, even when everyone else is feeling down.
The Bad
His possession numbers are still unimpressive. But still, Kuznetsov’s production generally makes up for it. He’s perhaps miscast a bit as a shutdown center. If Kuznetsov is better deployed, specifically in a scoring role, his production should rise and his possession numbers should improve. As great as Kuzy was in 2017, he was not good in 2016. His ankle injury likely influenced this, but still, he can’t go nearly invisible for two months.
Future
Kuznetsov is a restricted free agent. The KHL is an undeniable option for him because of the 2018 Winter Olympics. However, expect Kuznetsov to sign long-term in Washington. And boy is he ever going to get paid.
Other Kuznetsov season reviews: Japers Rink, Russian Machine Never Breaks
Next: Capitals Offseason Outlook
Player Grade
B+. Whatever happened to Kuznetsov from October to November can’t happen again. But he was able to bounce back very nicely. Kuznetsov was thought of to be the number two center the Capitals have been waiting for. It seems he might not be because he darn well might be a number one center.. Center. Washington Capitals. EVGENY KUZNETSOV
Discussion
How much money should Kuznetsov get this offseason? Who would you like to see him play with next season? Discuss these questions, and more, in the comments below!