Evgeny Kuznetsov responds to report of him requesting trade from Capitals

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov shot down a report that he requested a trade. Russian news outlet Match TV reported on Saturday Kuznetsov asked to be traded from the Capitals two years ago. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman added on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts Podcast Kuznetsov and the Capitals “have been headed towards potentially a divorce” for a couple of years.

“You know how it is: It’s just people trying to put whatever they want to get the like and on Instagram or Twitter, whatever,” Kuznetsov said about the report, per Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic. “I spoke to those people and was like, ‘Where did this come from?’ … At this point, there is nothing to even talk about.”

Evgeny Kuznetsov is in his 10th season with Washington. He has been a main cog for a decade. He played arguably his best during the Capitals’ run to the Stanley Cup championship in 2018, leading the NHL playoffs with 20 assists and 32 points.

However, Kuznetsov’s aura faded following his four-year suspension from international play for a positive cocaine test at the 2019 IIHF World Championship. His suspension occurred shortly after a video surfaced of Kuznetsov sitting near a table with two lines of white powder substance, dating back to 2018. The NHL cleared Kuznetsov of the video, yet, the damage appeared already done.

Since then, Kuznetsov has not been the same player on the ice. He’s chased his career year during the 2017-2018 and the subsequent 2018 NHL playoff. Last season, he averaged 0.99 points per game through 78 games.

This season at 30 years old, Kuznetsov’s production has dropped off. Through 73 games, he has 53 points — 12 goals, 41 assists — his lowest point total in a non-COVID-affected season since 2016-2017.

Outside his run during Washington’s Stanley Cup title, Kuznetsov hasn’t lived up to his eight-year, $62.4 million deal.

The Capitals are six points out of a playoff berth with eight games remaining. Washington is starting to retool its roster by getting younger at this month’s trade deadline. Kuznetsov is under contract through 2024-25, and his $7.8 million cap hit for each of the final two seasons could make it difficult for Washington to move him even if both sides wanted a divorce.