#2 Evgeny Kuznetsov
Evgeny Kuznetsov will be the second leading scorer on the Capitals in goals and possibly first in assists. After a good revenge tour last year, he’s ready for an even bigger season centering the top line.
Kuznetsov went from nine goals in 2021 to 24 last season. He’ll go from 24 last season to 33 this season. That’s right we’ll give him 33 goals this season. That would be a career high.
This was an important season last year. And this year it’ll be about proving that last year was no fluke.
His advanced stats were decent in the regular season with a 49.68 percent Corsi For percentage, a 48.18 percent Expected Goals For percentage, and a 44.87 percent High Danger Chances For.
What will really help Kuznetsov have a breakout year is if he carries over regular season success to the postseason. He did it before in 2018. Sadly he didn’t have the magic last spring.
His advanced stats dropped to a Corsi For percentage of 41.09 percent, a 38.16 percent Expected Goals For percentage but did have a 58.33 percent High Danger Chances For.
Kuznetsov should be centering the top line most of if not the entire season. Alex Ovechkin will be by his side and there will be some training camp competition for the right side of the top line with Tom Wilson out.