Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on the 32 Thoughts: The Podcast – Tin Foil Hats, on the Washington Capitals, Evgeny Kuznetsov scenario.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Friedman: “The attention-grabbing factor for me in Washington is Kuznetsov. It’s apparent now the Capitals are reshaping their workforce. And I’ll give credit score to the weblog Russian Machine Never Breaks as a result of they discovered the article out of Russia that claims that Kuznetsov had requested for a commerce a pair years in the past, and out of the blue lots of issues begin to make much more sense.
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For the final couple of years we’ve type of heard Kuznetsov’s identify on the market. We’ve talked about earlier than how the connection between him and the workforce has been strained. I believe they’ve been upset with him.
Ovechkin was the Conn Smyth winner in 2018 however Kuznetsov was a serious cause they received the Stanley Cup. He gave them a component in these years playoffs they all the time dreamed of after they drafted him. That they might have a killer 1-2 punch, Backstrom-Kuznetsov, and other people wouldn’t be capable of deal with it. And that’s precisely what occurred that playoff.
He bought an enormous contract proper after. He deserved each penny on the time and if he had continued to play the best way that he performed, none of this may be a difficulty however he hasn’t actually been the identical participant since. I believe that they’ve felt he has not had the identical perspective.
Kuznetsov, he’s all the time been a very sincere, free thinker. I take pleasure in speaking to him. He’s very blunt. But I believe that they really feel that he’s not the identical dedicated participant, and he feels, clearly, not been supported by the group.
Now, it’s like courting Jeff, the reality might be someplace within the center however I believe this brings to mild what lots of us have suspected, and I believe that for a pair years now the Capitals and Kuznetsov have been headed in direction of probably a divorce.
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It’s simply that, like I stated, if he was enjoying like the best way he was in 2018, they’re not trying to commerce him and in addition, any individual’s blissful to take him. He simply hasn’t been at that degree, which makes it tougher on the workforce and tougher to make a deal in a good cap world.
But it says to me, that is coming sooner or later. Can’t say precisely when, nevertheless it’s coming.”