Over the last year or so, Evgeny Kuznetsov has experienced the best and worst parts of being an NHL superstar. The Russian center helped lead the Capitals to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in June 2018 and later brought the NHL’s championship trophy to his hometown of Chelyabinsk. Fast forward to this summer, the Kuznetsovs had their second child, a baby boy they named Fedor, in June. But it was around then that things went south. A Russian Twitter user uploaded a video of Kuznetsov by lines of a white powdery substance. Kuznetsov denied using drugs, but in late August, he was suspended four years by the IIHF for testing positive for cocaine. Kuznetsov, who recently met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, deleted all of his photos and videos off Instagram. He hasn’t spoken to the reporters. He’s been the subject of relentless taunts by “Capitals fans” on social media.
But quietly, Kuznetsov has gone about his business at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Kuzy spent most of the summer in the United States, training with whichever Capitals players were around and working with strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish.
“I look at him and he’s in great shape,” Alex Ovechkin recently said. “He’s going to be good this year.”
Friday, Kuznetsov had his first chance to show off his progress to his coaches. He dominated his skate test along with Jakub Vrana as a member of Team White – the Caps’ first training camp group of the morning.
Video
Kuznetsov and Vrana destroy their group in the last lap of the skate test. Gudas ends up on his belly by the end of the test. pic.twitter.com/sIdtK8N9ij
— RMNB (@russianmachine) September 13, 2019
“He’s been here pretty much the whole summer,” TJ Oshie, Kuzy’s likely right winger on the second line, said on Capitals Media Day. “I have seen him training. To me, he looks better than I have ever seen him. I always expect big things out of him and I am expecting bigger things this year.”
“I think he’s aware that it’s a big mistake in his mind, and he’s remorseful,” general manager Brian MacLellan added.
The Capitals, who have all united behind Kuznetsov in support, are awaiting Gary Bettman’s decision on if he will face discipline from the NHL. Capitals head coach Todd Reirden reiterated that the center will not speak until Bettman communicates with the team.
Todd Reirden says the #Caps are still waiting on word from the NHL re: Evgeny Kuznetsov, who isn't speaking publicly until a decision is announced.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) September 13, 2019
“His mind is where he should [be] Training Camp,” Nicklas Backstrom said. “I mean, very unfortunate what happened, but at the same time, for us as friends, I think it’s really important that we support him no matter what. We’re going to fight this together, as a family.”
Nicklas Backstrom pokes his head onto the bench after the skate test to say something to Kuznetsov and Vrana. pic.twitter.com/bUtfhf5IZK
— RMNB (@russianmachine) September 13, 2019
Several Capitals players were asked by media if Kuznetsov needs to address the team in the locker room, to both help him and the team completely move on. Players had mixed feelings and left it up to him.
“I have made mistakes in my past, I missed a practice once and got in some trouble, and I addressed the team,” Oshie said. “Sometimes it gets a little emotional but I think Kuzy is a great guy, he’s a good teammate. I think he’s fun to play with. I sit next to him in the locker room during games. He’s a good person. I don’t think he really has to say much to us. If he does, I know people will appreciate it. He doesn’t have to say anything to me, that’s for sure. We just want him to be good and get back to himself.
“I don’t know. I mean, that’s ultimately up to him,” Braden Holtby said. “Our job right now is we support him. Obviously, there are always consequences to actions. But the main thing that we want to be there for as teammates is to help him come through stronger. Whether it’s off the ice, on the ice, to support him to make himself, make our team stronger.”
Capitals center Lars Eller spent most of the summer skating with Kuznetsov at the team’s training facility along with TJ Oshie and John Carlson. He still thinks he’s the same guy, but just more determined than ever now to have a big season.
“I don’t think we will see it be a bad impact on him,” Eller said. “I don’t see a difference in the Kuzy right now from what I have seen in the past. The guy comes in with a smile on his face every day and he is one of the guys. Nothing has really changed from that standpoint. Whatever he has to deal with privately, we will let him deal with that privately. [We] hope to see the best version of Kuzy on the ice because that is where we will need him.”
It may be early, but so far, that looks like what they’re getting.
Kuznetsov now on the bench shouting encouragement to Matt Moulson, who is suffering the skate test. “Come on, Mouls, let’s see some f-king magic!”
— RMNB (@russianmachine) September 13, 2019
Transcription by Cara Bahniuk. Headline photo by Elizabeth Kong.
