When the Washington Capitals take on the Tampa Bay Lightning today, Evgeny Kuznetsov will be playing in new, top of the line gear from Bauer, if Wednesday’s exhibition game was any indication.
Against the Carolina Hurricanes, Kuznetsov scored in his first game using Bauer’s revolutionary hockey stick, the Nexus ADV, which features a hole in its blade.
This version of the stick is only used by a handful of players in the NHL and first debuted in an NHL game in January.
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Kuzy first started using the new version of the stick during Phase 3 Training Camp. Kuzy chose to tape over the hole at the toe of his stick.

The first-line center has long used Nexus ADV sticks dating back several years, even dressing his previous twigs as Vapor 1x Lites (2017).
Last week, the Russian center also wore new Bauer Supreme UltraSonic skates during the Capitals’ exhibition game.
Some of the features of the skates, according to Hockey Monkey, include:
- An Asymmetrical toe cap which is designed so the skater can get closer to the ice with an aggressive attack angle to allow for more efficient strides.
- A 3D Lasted Carbon Curved Composite Quarter Package which is setup to be more responsive to heat molding than ever before
- A Lock Fit Pro liner which is designed to keep feet locked into place and wick away sweat. This liner is paired a brand-new Aerofoam Pro Interior padding around the ankle to provide maximum comfortability on the ice.
So yeah, Kuzy is totally a new-age Bauer Boy now.
Hey, hey, who's ready for some puck today? pic.twitter.com/hVriQNN5An
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 3, 2020