Evgeny Kuznetsov recently popped up back in the DC area after finishing the season with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Traded in March by the Washington Capitals at the NHL’s trade deadline, Kuznetsov stopped by a local Starbucks last week to grab a coffee. Still beloved, the Russian centerman quickly drew a crowd of Caps fans.
“It truly was such an amazing experience,” Hannah Haar, a Starbucks barista, said in a message to RMNB. “As I was walking by the register, I looked up and saw him. My first reaction was, ‘Oh my god.'”
According to Hannah, Kuznetsov appeared to blush when she and others in the store knew it was him. She asked for a photo. He was happy to oblige.
“He was so sweet and kind to everyone,” Hannah said.
When asked what name to scrawl on his coffee cup, the Capitals 2018 Stanley Cup champion didn’t try to hide his identity. He replied with his widely-known nickname across the NHL, Kuzy.
The moment was especially exciting for Hannah considering how much she loves the Capitals and her bashfulness during a previous chance encounter with a Capitals player.
“I moved to the DC area around three to four years ago and within the first year, I was going to any home Capitals game I could go to with my family,” Hannah explained. “The following year, we got the amazing chance to get season tickets and I was able to watch the team from section 110, right in front of Ovi’s office. Each game I attended, I became more of a fan and went to any signings I was able to go to.”
According to Hannah, Alex Ovechkin came into the store with his trainer Pavel Burlachenko a month ago, thrilling both the staff and other customers in the store.
“He was just the sweetest,” Hannah said of Ovi. “When taking his order, he had a smile the entire time and had such manners and a kind tone. At the end of his order, he said ‘Thank you, sweetie’ and went on his way to take some pictures with other customers in the building. I was too starstruck to ask him for a picture. My dad, who is a huge fan, was so mad at me.”
In a group text the family sent to RMNB, Hannah sent the picture of Kuznetsov along with the message, “My store gets all the cap players omg.”
A family member quipped, “Dad needs to work at Starbucks so he can meet Ovechkin.”
