#2 Evgeny Kuznetsov
I tried my best not to single out anybody. Okay well maybe not. It is no secret now, the Caps organization is frustrated with Evgeny Kuznetsov both his on ice play and off the ice behavior. On the ice he’s been very inconsistent which is okay if you’re making a cap hit in the two million to four million range but not if you’re making a salary like Kuznetsov where he was the second highest paid player on the team behind Alex Ovechkin.
It is possible the team might trade Kuznetsov. Stars and Sticks contributor CJ Witt looked at five possible suitors the other day. Still it is sad that we have reached this point with Kuznetsov who just three short years ago was in the conversation for a Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs. That award went to Ovechkin but anybody that watched the Capitals that spring knew Kuzy was a big reason they won the Cup.
The reports about the organization being frustrated with Kuznetsov might have to do with him and Ilya Samsonov being late to a team function in early May which landed him in hot water with Peter Laviolette and the coaching staff and later led to him being on the COVID-19 protocol list even catching the virus.
Whatever happens to Kuznetsov, he will be remembered for that 2018 Cup run and he will be missed. If he’s back with the team next season, I’m rooting hard for him to succeed.