Evgeny Kuznetsov

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kuznetsov's time in Washington was defined by his clutch performances and unique personality. He made his NHL debut on March 8, 2014, scoring a short-handed goal in his first game to tie the match against the Los Angeles Kings. His playoff prowess peaked in 2018, where he recorded 32 points, matching Evgeni Malkin's 2009 output as the highest total by any player in the last 25 postseasons. A pivotal moment occurred in Game 6 against Pittsburgh when his overtime goal sent Washington to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 1998. In the Stanley Cup Final, he became only the fourth player in NHL history to record four assists in a single finals game, a feat not seen in 22 years. Despite leading the league in scoring, he lost the Conn Smythe Trophy to Alex Ovechkin, receiving five first-place votes compared to Ovechkin's thirteen.

In Their Own Story

On March 8, 2014, Kuznetsov entered the NHL with a short-handed goal against the Los Angeles Kings, though Washington eventually lost in a shootout. The following year, on April 27, he scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals against the New York Islanders to advance his team. By 2018, the stakes were higher. In Game 6 against Pittsburgh, Kuznetsov secured the Capitals' berth in the Eastern Conference Finals with an overtime winner. Later that month, during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, he dished out four assists, tying a record set decades prior. His celebration became as famous as his play; he debuted the 'bird dance' at the 2016 World Cup and revived it in 2018 because his daughter loved it. Teammate T.J. Oshie noted that Kuznetsov is among the top five players in the league, while Tom Wilson praised him for telling defenders to 'put my stick on the ice' before hitting it with a pass.

Reader's Guide

Kuznetsov operated as a highly intelligent playmaker who relied on vision rather than physical intimidation. Coach Barry Trotz noted his extremely high hockey IQ and love for studying film, while teammate Lars Eller agreed that Kuznetsov sees what others don't. He preferred making risky plays to create offense, stating he was not ready to work 365 days a year just to be an MVP but wanted to have fun on the ice. His contract history includes an eight-year, $62.4 million deal signed in July 2017. Off-ice challenges included a three-game suspension in September 2019 for cocaine use and entering the NHL Player Assistance Program in February 2024. After clearing waivers from the Capitals, he was briefly loaned to Hershey before being traded to Carolina on March 8, 2024. He played 20 regular-season games for the Hurricanes (7 points) and 10 playoff games (6 points) before his contract was mutually terminated in July 2024.

Did You Know?

• Kuznetsov's 'bird' celebration was lifted from the FIFA soccer video game.
• He became only the fourth NHL player to record four assists in a single Stanley Cup Final game, the first to do so in 22 years.
• In the 2018 playoffs, he led all scorers with 32 points, matching Evgeni Malkin's total from 2009 as the highest in the last 25 seasons.
• He won two IIHF World Championship gold medals (2012 and 2014) before winning his Stanley Cup.
• After being cleared by the NHL Player Assistance Program, he was waived by the Capitals and loaned to their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.