Photo credit: 1obl.ru

While Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov still hasn’t signed off on a new deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk, his hometown KHL team showed their appreciation for his recent comments that he would stay in Russia for another two seasons by raising his jersey to the rafters of Traktor Arena.

Kuznetsov, who was married at the sports complex a year ago, will now have his red #92 jersey hang with such Cheylabinsk stars as former Russian national team coach Vyacheslav Bykov, IIHF HOF’er Sergei Makarov, Sergei Mylnikov, Andrei Sapozhnikov, Igor Varitsky, and Danis Zaripov.

Viktoria Voynova of the local Cheylabinsk TV channel OTV believes that despite his young age Kuzya is deserving of the honor.

This hockey player is worth his admission to this “Hall of Fame”. At 20 years old, he has already won World Championship, World Junior Championship, bronze medal for the Russian championship, and twice participated in the KHL All-Star Game. He already has been given the title of Honored Master of Sports.

“I am always motivated,” said Kuznetsov. “You make plans every year or two. I also have my dreams. I want to achieve my goal. Obviously, Gagarin Cup. I also have a dream to go to the Olympics, and to win there, of course. And to bring the Stanley Cup to Chelyabinsk.”

Wait. Did Kuznetsov just say he wants to win a cup? Well, at least we know what his plans are for 2014-15!

Meanwhile, Kuzya finally returned home to Chelyabinsk on Thursday, after winning gold at the World Championships held in Sweden earlier in the week. And like a typical kid, the first thing he did was go on a midnight shopping spree with his friend Stas Yarushin, a well-known Russian sitcom actor.

Check out the photo of the two posing together below.

Photo credit: @StYarushin

Translation by Igor Kleyner.