Alex Ovechkin comments on Evgeny Kuznetsov trade rumors
Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov has been the subject of trade rumors for the longest time. Since April, those rumors heated up as some people reported that he wanted out. Alex Ovechkin has made some headlines the last few days on the ice in Russia but he also said some interesting things off the ice.
Ovechkin noted on the Kuznetsov trade rumors that he has kept track of the headlines and is well aware of the situation. While he knows what’s going on, he hopes they don’t pan out.
“I don’t have any information about Kuznetsov’s trade [situation]. How would I react to a trade? This is the business of hockey. Today you’re here, tomorrow there, the day after tomorrow on another team. I hope it won’t happen.”
Kuznetsov had a down season to put it mildly. General manager Brian MacLellan was a little more harsh in calling it a “disappointing” season. Kuznetsov had 12 goals and 43 assists for 55 points. He also had a career low seven percent shooting percentage.
The season before that Kuznetsov was an all star with 24 goals and 78 points in 79 games.
Ovechkin added, “He’s a close friend of mine, a great person, a great teammate. So I wouldn’t like that. But it doesn’t depend on me.”
Mike Vogel, senior writer of WashingtonCaps.com reported earlier this summer that Kuznetsov requested a trade though in a separate Russian interview featuring Kuznetsov he said it was “not quite true.”
In the meantime, Kuznetsov is in touch with his agents. MacLellan isn’t necessarily trying to trade Kuznetsov but he’s still trying to work the phones for a top six trade.
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Whether that trade involves moving the Capitals center or not remains to be seen.