You cannot tell the history of the Washington Capitals without mentioning Evgeny Kuznetsov. He was a crucial part of the Capitals team who won the franchises first Stanley Cup in 2018. I think you could argue he was the most important piece of that team.
During the Ovechkin era the Caps always (obviously) had Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. It wasn't until they had that third guy, a very talented guy, take it to the next level and take some pressure off of the two future hall of famers that the team made a run, or made the run.
Kuznetsov led the Stanley Cup playoffs in scoring that year with 32 points, scoring 12 goals in the teams 24 games. You could legitimately argue that he should have won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP that year. However the voters went for Ovechkin and his 15 goals and 27 points. Tie goes to the superstar I suppose.
Beyond the great playoff Kuznetsov had that year, he might have the most famous goal in Capitals history. At least in playoff terms. With all due respect to Lars Eller and his Stanley Cup winning goal, I see Kuznetsov's overtime goal in game six vs the Penguins way more often. It was a "slaying the dragon" kind of moment. The Capitals finally got past the second round. They finally beat the Penguins. Ovechkin finally beat Crosby. It was a massive goal for the franchise. Which is why you see it all the time.
Now that we have cemented Kuznetsov's place in Capitals history it's time to talk about the negatives.
Unfortunately you are going to have those athletes who are going to leave you wanting more. The reasons for this can be aplenty. Great performers who don't show up in the playoffs. Greats who don't win a championship. Injuries. Off the field or playing surface issues. Players with all the talent and can't put it all together. Whatever reason.
Whether you're a fan of Kuznetsov or not, you have to admit he falls into this category
Evgeny Kuznetsov is a tremendously talented player. When he is on top of his game I truly believe is he one of the very best hockey players in the world. Maybe I'm overhyping him, but I think when Kuznetsov wanted to be there were not many NHLers better than him. He could have been among the ten, fifteen or twenty best players in the best league in the world.
He just simply didn't want to be
This isn't me or us guessing that. He told us all as this. Multiple times. Once early in his career when talking about the greatness of Ovechkin. The other time in 2018 not long after celebrating a Cup win. Maybe celebrating and enjoying the win for too long.
To paraphrase him, in 2018 he said, "To be MVP you have to work hard all year. I don't want to do that. That's not my style."
Basically, since that year, since the Cup win, he was very up and down, and I think that is being kind. He was mostly down. For years, almost every game you wouldn't be able to find number ninety-two on the ice. You had to go looking for him. And when you did find him, he was not being nearly as impactful as he should have been.
Sure, you would have a game or two where he would act like thee insanely skilled and talented player he was. He even had an extended stretch of greatness in 2021-22. But even in that season it started great and then faded as the season went on. With the exception of the first half of that season, I'd say 75-80% of the time he was nearly invisible in games after 2018.
As well all know, that went on for 5+ years.
During this time he had off ice "issues". One that got him suspended in the NHL for a few games and got him banned by the IIHF for four years.
He was also in trade rumors for years thanks to his lackluster play. There was some confusion whether or not he asked for a trade. Whether he directly asked for a trade or not it seemed like he would welcome a trade.
That trade finally came at the 2024 trade deadline. After another half season where he couldn't perform like he could or should he eventually went into the NHL Players Assistance Program and that was the end of Kuznetsov in Washington.
He was traded to the rival Hurricanes where it seemed like he was very happy. It seemed like he was thrilled at the opportunity. Apparently it was not enough for him however. During the playoffs he was scratched for a couple of games and the Hurricanes got bounced in the second round.
Here we are. Just a few months later and Kuznetsov looks KHL bound. His NHL career could very well be over at just 32-years-old, still with all the ability in the world.
This isn't to say some NHL team out there wouldn't take him. I'm assuming some team would. I don't think he is being forced out because no one wants him. We can all see the talent. It feels mostly like, "Does a contending team want me? Do I think I fit their team? Do I want to work hard?" And probably how much are these teams willing to pay compared to SKA Saint Petersburgh of the KHL?
He will likely go back to Russia, get paid a ton of money and likely keep the same work ethic he has. As long as he has fun and is happy. Quite frankly, who wouldn't accept that?
I do think sports has become way too obsessed with success and winning, especially on the fan side of things. I think fun and excitement and entertainment is something we need to get back into and stop worrying about championships. I think some players can benefit from that as well.
At the same time, these are athletes who are getting paid millions of dollars to work and perform. If I'm paying you millions, I expect you to put your best work in most games. Kuznetsov rarely did that. As I said earlier, most games you would have to go looking for him. That's not acceptable for a high paid, key player. If you want to be a key player on a team, which likely means a high paid player, you have to bring it almost every game. He didn't, for years.
And now all we can do is ask "what if"? What is Evgeny Kuznetsov brought his best more times than not? We know what he was capable of. The 2017-18 season showed us that. He scored 27 goals and 83 points in 79 games played. He followed that up with a playoff MVP caliber performance.
After that season he sleepwalked and still actually put up some decent numbers in seasons. He had 72 points in 76 games the next season. He had 52 in 63 the next. The season we mentioned earlier where he started strong and kind of faded late he ended up with 24 goals and 78 points in 79 games. Most players would love to put up numbers like Kuznetsov did. And he did it putting up half effort on a lot of nights.
The talent is or was there. He has nearly everything. He skates really well. He has the handles. A very good playmaker. A shot I don't think he used nearly enough, a common complaint for playmakers. For whatever reason, after 2018 it just looked like his lost the desire to do it. What if that didn't happen?
Do the Capitals have more Cups? I don't know about that. But they might have won more rounds. There were plenty of first round exits where he, like other Capitals players barely showed up come playoff time.
If he did work hard every game he would still be in Washington. Well on his way to being a team legend. Right up there with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Or at least as close as you could be to being up with guys like that.
Instead he is just another good player who has come and gone. Somewhat like Alex Semin. The only difference is Kuznetsov and his Capitals were able to put it together one time. Semin and his teams didn't.
Whenever the Capitals bring back the 2018 team to celebrate an anniversary I'm sure Kuznetsov will be there. Fans will cheer and the good feelings and the great memories will flow. But you can't tell me there isn't at least a little of "what if" in there.
If Kuznetsov brought his all like a superstar should he could have been one of the best players in Washington Capitals history. "What if?"