Washington Capitals Sign 2010 1st Rounder Evgeny Kuznetsov To Entry Level Deal

[HockeyInTheHimalayas]

The much anticipated NHL debut of Washington's 2010 1st round pick, Evgeny Kuznetsov will be Monday vs the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is one of the top prospects (not to be mistaken with top players lol) outside of the NHL. His wish was to start a family at a young age, so he decided to stay in the KHL his first few pro years closer to family, which ignited concerns about drafting Russians in the 1st round irrespective of talent.

I remember watching Kuznetsov live at the Saddledome during the WJC tourney in 2012 and he was lights out in the semifinals. Russia won 6-5 over Canada unfortunately. He scored some spectacular goals, finishing the game with a hat-trick and a helper.

Undoubtedly skilled, he should fit in well with Ovechkin in Washington (Ovy even attended Kuznetsov's wedding), and I would group him in that Radulov and Kovalev, semi-star tier, not quite up there with Ovy, Datsyuk and Malkin, but he'll be a good one for sure.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=445621


NHL.com article, comparing him to other "phenoms"
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=7...d=nhl:topheads


Translation of Soviet Sport's Interview with Kuznetsov in 2011
http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks...-am-kuznetsov/

Kuznetsov Chirping at Canada in Calgary (Boooo!)
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/01/04...ping-after-win

[devo22]

good for them. It's about time.

[RyZ]

I have a feeling this is another nail in the coffin in Washington.

This team has had superior skill for years and never turned it into any success. Another skilled Russian with 0 defensive accumen being used as a major player isn't going to help.

I wonder if a team has ever had 2 40+ goal scorers go worse than -20 and miss the playoffs in the same season before.

[dammage79]

Caps can use him for sure. I don't really think a player can learn to defensively in the NHL until you get to North America so I'm sure he'll get better at that aspect in due time.

That skill though, you can't teach that.

[FAN]

How tall is Kuznetsov? He was listed as between 6'0" and 6'1" at the time of the draft. Wiki has him listed at 6'3". Did he grow?

[devo22]

Eliteprospects and the KHL website list him at 6'1.

[GreenLantern2814]

This one wasn't worth SureLoss' time, eh?