Capitals pushing Evgeny Kuznetsov out the door!

Insiders have been saying it for weeks and Frank Seravalli of Daily Face-off has added oil to the fire this week. The Washington Capitals are fed up with forward Evgeny Kuznetsov’s antics and it sounds like the Russian player could be traded this summer. On May 3rd, he was scratched by coach Peter Laviolette for disciplinary reasons. A day later, insider Pierre LeBrun reported that Capitals management was now so irritated by Kuznetsov that the team might be open to dealing the top-line center this offseason.

General manager Brian MacLellan basically confirmed that the Russian forward was on the trade block once his team was ousted from the postseason, and Seravalli believes he could be traded once Washington pays up his signing bonus on July, 1st. 

“Simply put, the Caps are tired of Kuznetsov’s antics. From being one of the only NHL players to test positive for Covid-19 twice this season, to his four-year suspension from international hockey after testing positive for cocaine, the time is right for change. Kuznetsov is unquestionably a talented player – see his Conn Smythe-worthy playoff run in 2018 – but an inconsistent one. His contract will be difficult to move, but perhaps less so after the Caps pay his $5 million signing bonus due in July.”

Beside the behavioural issues, Kuznetsov isn’t the player he once was. Back in 2018, during the Caps’ Stanley Cup run, he was arguably the team’s best player for nearly two months, recording 32 points in 24 games.
This season, Kuznetsov struggled, was placed on COVID-19 protocols twice, costing him 13 games and finished with no points and eight shots on goal in Games 3-5 in the postseason. 

But as Seravalli points out: it won’t be an easy move for the Capitals. After all, he is owed $7.8 million for each of the next four seasons and also has a 15-team no-trade list, per Cap Friendly. But with the talent he is and his potential that could bring to a new team thanks to a change of scenery, we bet suitors will come calling in DC. 

Who gets him?