The NHL trade deadline has come and gone and the Carolina Hurricanes were at centre stage. While they made a big swing to land Jake Guentzel, they also took a chance by acquiring centre Evgeny Kuznetsov from the Washington Capitals. As much as Carolina was looking to get something out of the Russian centre, Evgeny Kuznetsov was looking at the Hurricanes to get his game back on track. Even though it has been a small sample size so far, the match seems to be coming together very well.
Evgeny Kuznetsov – From the Capitals to the Hurricanes
Kuznetsov was a 2010 first-round pick of the Washington Capitals. He got his first taste of the NHL in 2013 and stuck with the team from then on. Kuznetsov is a playmaking centre with very strong, sometimes borderline elite, passing skills. He has an ability to slow the game down and fine lanes to make plays to set up those around him for Grade A chances. While a little different than most of the players’ styles in Carolina, he is a player who seems at his best when he is having fun and showing offensive creativity.
The Washington Stint
Kuznetsov was a big part of Washington’s strong run and eventual Stanley Cup Win. His best season came in 2017-18 when he scored 27 goals and 56 assists. Ironically, that was Washington’s Stanley Cup year. In the playoffs, he was on fire. He scored 12 goals and 20 assists in 24 games. Washington was on cloud nine and Kuznetsov was right there at the centre of it.
While he continued to have successful seasons after that one on the ice, he fell into trouble in 2019 involving drugs. He received a suspension from the IIHF but continued to play in the NHL. However, this season saw a huge dive in Kuznetsov’s performance and off-ice health.
Kuznetsov’s Down Season
With Washington, he only put up six goals and 11 assists in 47 games. Many times he was on the fourth line or scratched. Then, the team announced he entered the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program and took a leave of absence. While the specifics were not clear as to why he entered the program, clearly something personal was going on. When he returned from the program, Washington waived him and sent him to the AHL after he cleared.
Amid one of his worst seasons in the NHL, Carolina saw the potential for him to get back on track and took a chance by acquiring him at the trade deadline with Washington retaining half of his salary for a third-round draft pick. It was a low-risk high-reward move in an attempt to provide strength down the middle, ideally in the second-line centre role.
A New Team – A New Start
Now having played four games with Carolina, both Kuznetsov and Hurricanes fans seem to be thoroughly enjoying the change. In four games, Kuznetsov only has one point, a goal against the Florida Panthers, but there seems to be something cooking with the new centre. From the start, Kuznetsov seemed ready to go. It worked out that the Hershey Bears were playing in Charlotte when he was traded because he was almost instantly on the ice practicing with the team. It also helps that his previous teammate and long-time friend Dmitry Orlov is also a member of the Hurricanes. With Orlov and other Russian players on the team, Kuznetsov seemed to feel right at home.
Game One
In his first game against the New Jersey Devils, he worked on the fourth line with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jesper Fast. He looked like a resemblance of his former self, working the puck around and patiently creating plays. There was one shift in particular in the first period where those three worked the puck around in the zone for what seemed like an eternity. While the plan was to eventually get him up to the 2C spot, an injury to Jack Drury accelerated that plan and every game since he has played there.
The “Trade” Line
When Guentzel got in the lineup, Rod Brind’Amour put Kuznetsov with Martin Necas and Guentzel on the second line. The thought process was to be able to monitor their playing time and concentrate the new guys getting adjusted to the system on one line. It seems like that might have only taken two games. Against the New York Rangers, they were quiet, but against the Panthers, that line was the team’s best. They were constantly creating chances. Kuznetsov and Guentzel both got their first points as Hurricanes, a goal and an assist respectively. Necas also got a goal.
The Human Side
The story here is less about the points that Kuznetsov has put up already and more about the on and off-ice benefit that he and the team seem to be receiving from this marriage. For Kuznetsov, you could see from day one how appreciative he was to get an opportunity to get back on track. He even stated how scoring his first goal with Carolina and the crowd cheering his name so loudly got him emotional.
It’s clear that Kuznetsov knows this is his chance at redemption and a chance to really help Carolina. We in no way are excusing what he may have done, and neither has he nor are we opining on what may be fully going on with Kuznetsov. But what we can say is Kuznetsov seems to have a new light and gratitude for the game. This is not a knock on Washington either. Sometimes a person just needs a change of scenery. But it can’t be expressed enough how even with all of the negative publicity that so many hockey stories have lately, this shows an example of how the game can be used for good.
“I had fun tonight, and I hope that everyone in the building had fun.”
Evgeny Kuznetsov, y’all. https://t.co/nmMtFkptDu
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) March 15, 2024
The Evgeny Kuznetsov-Hurricanes Two-Way Street
As much as this has been big for Kuznetsov, Carolina will benefit if this progression keeps trending in a positive direction. At 5v5 with Kuznetsov on the ice, Carolina has a 73.6% expected goals for percentage and are dominating in shots. Not to mention they have three goals for and none against. Kuznetsov down the middle has been a big reason for this. His play seems to provide a sort of ying to Carolina’s typical yang and it may be exactly what they need to go far in the playoffs.
In addition to his own goal and Necas’s, he almost set Guentzel up perfectly on the back door but it hit the post too. Whether Guentzel moves up to the first line or not, this line is starting to sizzle and Kuznetsov has been a big reason. While Carolina may have been a savior for Kuznetsov, if this can continue he may play a similar role for them. The effect of his on-ice play is only compounded by his positive attitude off the ice and seemingly instant chemistry with his new team. He is having fun and playing with a smile but also knows what he needs to do to play for Brind’Amour.
Kuznetsov gets… the plunger?
“Plumbers plumb!” pic.twitter.com/gDPNZfPFyv
— Sammi Silber ? (@sammisilber) March 11, 2024
Evgeny Kuznetsov has the potential to be a fun player to watch for the Hurricanes if this continues.
Main Photo Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
