Evgeny Kuznetsov had winced when reporters and television cameras swarmed him in the playoffs, shying away from the attention after he scored two goals in Game 5 of the Washington Capitals’ first-round series against the Islanders. But more than five months later, he took his place in the corner of the dressing room after a one-goal, three-assist performance in the preseason finale and seemed to understand what the fuss was about.
He again answered every question, but appeared more confident in both his English and his place on the team. A year filled with transitions and evolution behind him, Kuznetsov is a stabilizing presence in the Capitals’ top-six forward corps.