Yevgeni Kuznetsov
Garrett James

Yevgeni Kuznetsov

Hometown:

Chelyabinsk Russia

Team:

Washington Capitals

Currently Playing In:

Europe

Birthday:

1992-05-19
Position:

RW
Eligible for draft:

2010
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2010
Height:

6-0
Acquired:

1st round (26th overall), 2010
Weight:

175 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
8.0

About Prospect Talent Score and Probability of Success»

Probability of Success
  • C

2006-07: Kuznetsov scored 52 goals with 34 assists and had 62 PIM in 36 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk U-16.

2007-08: Kuznetsov made his men’s league debut playing in two games with Traktor Chelyabinsk’s second team (in the Russian First Division (third league)) with no points or PIM. Kuznetsov missed much of the regular season but had 1 goal with 2 assists and was +5 with 6 PIM in six playoff games for Traktor’s U-17 team.

2008-09: Kuznetsov split the season between Traktor’s second men’s and U-18 teams. In 22 games in Russia’s First Division (third league), he scored five goals with 11 assists. Kuznetsov dominated at the U-18 level, scoring 28 goals with 26 assists in 23 games. In five games for Team Russia at the World U-17 Challenge, he scored 6 goals with 4 assists. Kuznetsov played for Russia at the U-18 World Junior Championships and scored 6 goals with 7 assists and was +7 with 10 PIM in seven games as Russia reached the gold medal game. Russia fell to tournament host USA, 5-0, in the final. Kuznetsov scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was +2 with 10 PIM in four games at the Ivan Hlinka U-18 tournament for Russia.

2009-10: Kuznetsov played for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL as a 17-year-old. In limited ice time, he scored 2 goals with 7 assists and was -6 with 10 PIM. Kuznetsov was loaned to Belye Medvedi and played nine games in the Russian High League (second division). He scored 4 goals with 12 assists and was +12 with 8 PIM for Medvedi. Kuznetsov played for Russia at both the U-20 and U-18 WJC tournaments. In six games with the U-20 team in Saskatchewan, he scored 2 goals and was +1 with 10 PIM as Russia finished sixth. At the WJC U-18 tournament, Kuznetsov was the captain for Team Russia and scored 5 goals with 7 assists and was +8 with 6 PIM in seven games. He was named to the WJC All-Star Team. Russia lost to Finland, 5-1, in the bronze medal game and finished fourth. Kuznetsov signed a two-year contract extension with Traktor Chelyabinsk in May.

2010-11: Kuznetsov was the leading scorer for Traktor Chelyabinsk in Russia’s KHL as an 18-year-old and tied for the points lead for gold medal-winning Russia at the 2011 U20 World Junior Championship. Kuznetsov scored 17 goals with 15 assists and was +7 with 30 PMs as Traktor finished fifth in the Kharlamov Division. In four playoff games he had 1 assist and was +1. Kuznetsov had three assists in Russia’s five-goal, third period outburst in the gold medal game against Canada and finished the junior tournament +7 with 4 goals and 7 assists; sharing the team lead in points with Vladimir Tarasenko (STL).

Kuznetsov dominates Capitals prospect awards

by Chris Roberts
on
Photo: Defenseman Dmitri Orlov is one of the newest additions to a young Capitals blue line. Orlov earned a spot in the lineup because veteran defenseman Mike Green spent most of the 2011-12 regular season on the IR. (Photo courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon SM)

Since the likes of Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Karl Alzner, and more recently Marcus Johansson, have graduated to form the core of the Washington Capitals, the organization's prospect pool has been dwindling. Their top prospect, Yevgeni Kuznetsov, is one of the most skilled young forwards outside of the NHL, but has said he'll likely be spending the next two years in Russia. Beyond Kuznetsov and Braden Holtby, the Capitals prospect cupboards are fairly bare, and it's reflected in their first annual prospect awards.

Read more»

Washington Capitals own top-heavy prospect pool

by Chris Roberts
on
Photo: Braden Holtby had a strong post-season with the Capitals, allowing only 1.95 goals per game. Holtby will be expected to compete for a starting job in 2012-13. (Photo courtesy of

Mark Goldman/Icon SMI)


Despite having a couple prospects who could become key players for the team in the future, the Washington Capitals prospect pool thins out pretty quickly. Evgeny Kuznetsov has first-line potential, while Braden Holtby has shown throughout this year's playoffs that he could become an elite-level goaltender. Yet, the bottom half of the Capitals top-20 is populated with players unlikely to ever make an impact at the NHL level.

1. (1) Yevgeni Kuznetsov, RW 8C
Drafted 1st Round, 26th overall, 2010
Read more»

Hockey’s Future Prospect of the Year, 2012

by Tony Piscotta
on
Photo: Vladimir Tarasenko was picked as Hockey's Future's 2012 prospect of the year for his stellar performance this season in the KHL and the U20 World Juniors. (Photo courtesy of Paul Hebert/Icon SMI)

For the fourth straight year Hockey's Future has named a Prospect of the Year. For the 2011-12 season the honors go to St. Louis Blues prospect Vladimir Tarasenko.

The second consecutive European to win the award (Swedish defensemen David Rundblad, then an Ottawa prospect, was selected last year), Tarasenko was scoring at a point-per-game pace for Sibir Novokosibirsk in Russia's KHL before a mid-season trade to SKA St. Petersburg and finished the year with a flourish in the playoffs. Tarasenko scored 10 goals with six assists in 15 games as SKA reached the West Conference finals.

The 20-year-old, who captained the gold-medal winning Russian U-20 team at the 2011 WJC tournament in Buffalo, will likely compete for Russia at the 2012 IIHF World Championships later this spring. Read more»
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