Kuznetsov officially signing with Capitals

[ThomasTomasz]

It's been years of "will they, won't they," but the Washington Capitals announced the club has finally signed top prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov to an entry-level contract Saturday. The 21-year-old forward has been lighting it up in the KHL since he was selected 26th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

It's been a dramatic roller coaster over the last four years, but the highly-anticipated arrival of Kuznetsov is near. He will join the Capitals soon and wear No. 92.

Injuries derailed his season this year with Chelyabinsk, his hometown team, and contributed to Kuznetsov missing the cut for the Olympic team. It was long rumored that Kuznetsov wouldn't come to the Caps until after the 2014 Olympics to ensure he would make the Russian team. After he did not, it seemed his NHL arrival was inevitable.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound center posted 146 points in 210 games with Chelyabinsk, including 21 in 31 games this season. In order to join the Caps, Kuznetsov's contract with Traktor had to be terminated, which it reportedly was earlier this week.

Kuznetsov has been dynamic on the international stage. He was the MVP of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship after posting 13 points in six games and helped Russia win WJC gold in 2011.

The song and dance with Kuznetsov has been fuel to the fire about the risk in drafting Russian players, but this prospect has the kind of skill that's worth waiting for.

And it has been a rather long wait for Capitals fans. While Kuznetsov may not be the savior for their season, he will be a breath of fresh air and just having him in the lineup will make a lot of folks in D.C. breathe a sigh of relief, including general manager George McPhee.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on...n-capitals-sign-top-prospect-evgeny-kuznetsov

:yesyesyes:

For you guys who are more in the know than I am, what are your expectations for Kuznetsov and how well will he transition to the NHL game? I'm not expecting a huge difference maker this year, but more looking for the future. It's a big deal to even get him to come over right now.

 

[Slateman]

Yea, he's going to play tonight on the 4th line. So he'll get a whopping 5 minutes of playing time.

 

[Slateman]

Ice team already increasing. Had a nice look but couldn't put it in the net. I expect him to be the second line winger by the end of the season.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Fleury robbed him of that goal. Nice to see they are moving him around, seeing where he fits best.

 

[leaffan]

Sort of watched him while in a half coma last night. Fluery robbed him on the skate stop play and I really didn't see him doing much else. Seems like another lazy winger though.

 

[Slateman]

Kuznetsov got his first point on a fantastiic assist to Tom Wilson

That right there is what you need from him. Wilson hasn't scored a point in ten games and Kuny sets him up beautifully. Caps have needed scoring from the other lines for a while. With Kuznetsov and Wilson on a line and Fehr and Ward on another, the Caps can score without Backstrom and Ovi on the ice.

Now, if we can just find a couple blue liners.

 

[Slateman]

And again.

 

[leaffan]

And again.

3 assists now I think. I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to watch the leaf caps game on Sunday but if I do I'll watch out for him again.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Kuznetsov got his first point on a fantastiic assist to Tom Wilson

That right there is what you need from him. Wilson hasn't scored a point in ten games and Kuny sets him up beautifully. Caps have needed scoring from the other lines for a while. With Kuznetsov and Wilson on a line and Fehr and Ward on another, the Caps can score without Backstrom and Ovi on the ice.

Now, if we can just find a couple blue liners.

That's exactly what we need, someone to make things happen outside of the first line.

Blueline will be an issue, as will toughness, but that's been missing from our team under GMGM so I am not hopeful we improve that this off-season. I would really like a stay-at-home defenseman in the mold of Regehr.

 

[Slateman]

More goodness from the Golden Boy.

I hate to say it, but I think the Caps have to amnesty Green. He just isn't good enough on either end.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

I could live with Green's defensive mis-haps when he was scoring almost a point per game. I will also give him credit, as he's known from day one that his weakness is in his own end, and he has worked to improve it.

But, he's had a hard-time the past few seasons staying healthy, and I think he's tried to improve his defense so much that he's afraid to play like he used to and join the rush consistently. I have a feeling that he will break out of this slump on a new team, one that will let him play to that strength, but it's clear he and the Capitals need to move on.

 

[Slateman]

New guy is impressing

 

[Slateman]

First goal to tie it up with less than a minute to play in regulation.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Mike Green continues to be awful, terrible effort put forth tonight all around. Stars are getting hot though.

 

[Slateman]

Starting on the 4th line

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Not a bad start to the season under Trotz, but there is some room for improvement. Holtby is in the top 12 GAA for starting goaltenders, so he has shown some improvement with room to grow. Our defense is finally playing well, and Mike Green is rumored to be on the market in return for a shutdown forward because of our depth.

What really stinks is how well Filip Forsberg is playing for Nashville. He has 9 goals and 22 points with a +20 so far, and he was the centerpiece of the Martin Erat deal, which is looking to be an extremely lopsided one.

 

[Slateman]

Guy's got skills.

 

[Slateman]

Well hello big sexy, where you been all season

 

[Josh]

Dude's developing into a solid second-line center this post-season. Him and Burakovsky are both blossoming. :yep:

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Dude's developing into a solid second-line center this post-season. Him and Burakovsky are both blossoming. :yep:

Rags have shut down Ovechkin and Backstrom for the most part, but the Killer B's have ripped them apart. Not sure if we take Game 5 tonight at MSG, but I would sure like to put them away on the road.