After Saturday’s “From Pure Heart” charity game in Saint Petersburg, Evgeny Kuznetsov spoke to Sport-Express’s Igor Yeronko about his predictions for the upcoming season, and his relationship with Alex Ovechkin.

The interview, which was published in several short snippets, follows below the break.

Is Ovechkin going to score 50 goals this season?

Evgeny Kuznetsov: I already spoke about that. I’m not going to repeat myself.

How many [goals] are you going to score?

Evgeny Kuznetsov: for me how many goals I score is not important. What’s important is for the team to make it to the playoffs and to get past the second round. If I just wanted to score points, I’d play a different sport.

Would you like to spend the season on a line with Ovechkin? They’re always putting you with different forwards.

Evgeny Kuznetsov: Of course, of course. It’s always fun to play with Sasha, we always fall into the same rhythm quickly. For us on [the Capitals], we’ve always been lucky in that everyone gets along with everyone else pretty well. No one curses anyone else out, everyone tries to find the positive and to help each other out, so it’s pleasant to play with anyone.

Before the game, Kuznetsov also commented on the irony of wearing a blue SKA jersey, since the team had reportedly offered him a healthy $20 million, two-year deal.

Does that jersey feel almost natural to you?

Evgeny Kuznetsov: I don’t even know what to tell you. After I play the first game, then it’ll feel normal. But it’ll never feel the same as it did [when I played for] Chelyabinsk. That’s my home, that’s where I grew up, where I was raised. They may say that no one owes anyone anything, but I feel like I’m obligated to Chelyabinsk.

Photo Credit: Sport-Express