Top 5 Capitals who won’t return in 2024

#2 Evgeny Kuznetsov

This is more of an educated guess rather than an assumption that Evgeny Kuznetsov could get traded. The Caps and Columbus Blue Jackets scouting each other’s last several games definitely raises questions. Scratching Kuznetsov from the lineup earlier this week raised some. Kuznetsov coming back and scoring his next game certainly raises more.

Can Kuznetsov keep it up to extend his time with the Caps? Could the Caps use this to up his value if he doesn’t want to be here? If Kuznetsov gets cold and gets scratched again, then what happens?

Either way dealing Kuznetsov is much easier said than done and the Caps learned that the hard way with the Nashville Predators when a deal with them fell through on draft night.

Kuznetsov has five goals and five assists for 10 points. He’s tied for third in team goals four ways with Anthony Mantha, Connor McMichael, and Alex Ovechkin each with five. He wasn’t much noticeable to begin the season but has turned around his play as the Capitals got better in their hot month of November.

So far this month has not been kind to the Capitals and tonight is a Metropolitan Division matchup with the New York Rangers, a possible revenge game for Kuzy after some choice comments on his former coach who is now head coach of the Rangers.