On Saturday, Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov was originally scheduled to be apart of DCPS Beautification Day. Instead, he was in Toronto figure skating.
Yeah, uhhhhh. Let me explain somewhat.
Kuznetsov flew to Canada along with fellow Caps rookie Andre Burakovsky to take part in the NHLPA Rookie Showcase. Every year, the best prospects from around the NHL gather together, this time at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly known as Maple Leaf Gardens) in Canada, to take photos for their first NHL trading cards and do other promotional activities for NHLPA partners.
So why was Kuzya and Burra holding hands with fellow prospects and skating around in a circle?
And now things have officially gotten weird at the #NHLPARookieShowcase. Everyone is having fun though. @NHL @NHLPA pic.twitter.com/EJoIJ4ahcH
— Upper Deck Hockey (@UpperDeckHockey) August 23, 2014
That I do not know, but they weren’t the only ones to get their Scott Hamilton on.
Lots of ?'s on why @NHL rookies are figure skating at the #NHLPARookieShowcase. Find out on YouTube soon! pic.twitter.com/hheGWYjT4U
— Upper Deck Hockey (@UpperDeckHockey) August 23, 2014
So many great moments from @BrockMcGinn21 & @fleury96's on ice performance at the #NHLPARookieShowcase. Here's one. pic.twitter.com/Qe5a9m5YnA
— Upper Deck Hockey (@UpperDeckHockey) August 23, 2014
Helping @NHL rookies get in sync is a big part of what we do at the #NHLPARookieShowcase. These guys have it down! pic.twitter.com/yjs35WCW9G
— Upper Deck Hockey (@UpperDeckHockey) August 23, 2014
Teaching Brett Ritchie and Anthony Camara some figure skating moves. #NHLPARookieShowcase @UpperDeckHockey pic.twitter.com/eDGoAdEGxt
— Stephen Laroche (@Stephen_Laroche) August 23, 2014
Now here is something you don't see everyday… @NHL players have skills! #NHLPARookieShowcase pic.twitter.com/BV65T68CmV
— Upper Deck Hockey (@UpperDeckHockey) August 23, 2014
Nice form there by #48 in red.
Kuznetsov and Burakovsky were also snapped by Upper Deck and the NHLPA doing other actives during the day.
It's the @CanadiensMTL vs @washcaps as @JacobdelaRose & @andreburakovsky faceoff in air hockey. #NHLPARookieShowcase pic.twitter.com/ggiXymBKBv
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) August 23, 2014
@NHL rookies are showing off their best trick shots at the @NHLPA Showcase. Kuznetsov looks awesome! @washcaps pic.twitter.com/VhdknR3zF6
— Upper Deck Hockey (@UpperDeckHockey) August 23, 2014
The Russian players refuse to leave the ice at the #NHLPARookieShowcase. Practice makes perfect! pic.twitter.com/ttWGT5ZMY6
— Upper Deck Hockey (@UpperDeckHockey) August 23, 2014
After a day of photo shoots, shinny and camaraderie, the players gathered for a group shot. #NHLPARookieShowcase pic.twitter.com/q9Fw3R8nSk
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) August 23, 2014
