Washington Capitals: Three Biggest Questions as we Approach the Regular Season

Nicklas Backstrom’s Health With a Side of Evegeny Kuznetsov

Nicklas Backstrom is one of the team’s most important players. Alex Ovechkin’s right-hand man for 14-years, the slick-handed Swede was banged up late last season and he is not yet ready to participate as the Capitals have him listed as week-to-week as he rehabs a hip injury.

Backstrom’s injury is a worrying development for the Capitals, Backstrom was the team’s most consistent forward through the 2020-2021 season, scoring 15 goals and adding 38 assists in 55 games. With Evgeny Kuznetsov coming off another disappointing season, it looked like the Washington Capitals might have to rely on the 33-year-old Backstrom to carry the load up the middle. Now, with his health in question, it’s more important than ever for Kuznetsov to return to his 2018 form and be the elite center that we all know that he can be.

It’s no secret that even with a healthy Backstrom, it is Evgeny Kuznetsov that transforms the Capitals from a very good team to a Stanley Cup contending team. The one-two punch of Backstrom and Kuznetsov is why the Capitals were able to march their way to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup win in 2018. This is a make it or break it season for Kuznetsov. Especially now with Backstrom’s injury, all eyes will be on the Russian playmaker to see if he can rise to the occasion. To his credit, Kuznetsov brought the right attitude with him to training camp.

"“It was one of the years [2020-2021] you want to forget but at the same time you want to remember,” Kuznetsov said. “It is like when you lose the game in the playoffs or any Game 7, you sit in the locker room and feel that pain and next year you don’t wanna feel that pain again so you can use that as motivation, you can use that as a target, as a goal.”"

It’s going to take a little while for the Capitals’ faithful to regain confidence in him but most importantly, Kuznetsov appears to have won the confidence of his head coach, Peter Laviolette.

"“Evgeny and I have had about as honest a conversation as you can have since I’ve been here,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “He’s in a really good spot right now, he looks extremely fit, healthy, ready to play. I think his mind is in a really good spot and we’ll be counting on him. He’s really gonna get an opportunity to take hold and show what he can do.”"

Kuznetsov is ready to prove himself and the fans in Washington are eager to see it. Is it October 13th yet?