The Capitals first round draft pick in 2010, Kuznetsov made his NHL debut on March 8, 2014. He only played in 17 games but netted 3 goals and 6 assists showing the Caps faithful that he could play with the “big boys.” Born May 19th, 1992, the almost-22-year-old Russian winger played professionally for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL before coming to the US and eventually becoming George McPhee’s swan song.
It didn’t take Kuznetsov long to adapt to the NHL. He’s not only a very skilled player, he’s a smart player with good passing skills and a unique sense of the game.