Evgeny Kuznetsov: “TikTokers are already playing hockey!” This didn’t happen in our time!

We can see how Evgeny Kuznetsov He missed Russia – he hadn’t been to his native Chelyabinsk for three years. And now I was bathed in the adoration of fans, performed in funny shows, gave interviews and went out on the ice with a friend. Alexander Ovechkinwhen he organized a gala match in Krasnogorsk during a children’s tournament named after him.

The new NHL championship will begin soon. Kuznetsov has an additional two-year contract with Washington. And we think Zhenya was only joking when he told us: “I will suffer in modern hockey for two more years…”

First of all, he is only 31 years old. There are a lot of exciting things to come in Washington, and it’s not just the expected moment when Ovechkin will break Wayne Gretzky’s record. Passing the assist to Ovi also makes history.

Secondly, Kuznetsov may well move to Traktor in 2025, where he will have a long and successful career, as well as the status of the main star of the KHL. Although personally, I would like to see Kuzya play in the NHL as long as possible and see how he raises another Stanley Cup over his head.

“Everything is in his hands,” Kuznetsov said in this interview about Vitaly Kravtsov. And we’ll say the same thing about Kuz, who everyone really likes.

Come on, Zhenya, get moving! A new season is coming.

From this interview with Evgeny Kuznetsov you will learn:

“Traktor will reach the playoffs, I’m sure.”

— Evgeniy, where did you find that old-school JOFA helmet you played with in the Ovechkin game?

“I came with a different color helmet, but here I need a red one.” So I took it to the museum. I was told this helmet was used from 1982 to 1986.

—And you’re also wearing a “Hockey Legends” sweater. Even if you only recently turned 30. Isn’t it too early to become a legend?

– Wish in silence! (Laughs).

— Goalkeeper Zach Fucale appeared in our league, it is said that it was you who recommended him to Traktor.

– In any case! He was just asking questions about the city, how everything worked in Chelyabinsk. But nevertheless, for a person who has never been to Russia, it is difficult to imagine where one is moving. He has a family, a child – everything is not so simple.

I told him and explained that there was no problem and that bears did not roam the streets of Chelyabinsk. You can live, and Traktor is a good team, and there are living conditions. We discussed more organizational issues.

“I would like to believe that Traktor will make the playoffs this season.

“It’s going to hit, it’s going to hit, I’m sure of it.” Of course, this doesn’t happen every time, and last season proved extremely unsuccessful. But the team is good and the guys have even regained their morale. Everyone was offended and upset by this failure, and their self-esteem dropped a little. But the guys are ambitious, everyone wants to play and win. Everyone’s eyes are shining this year: the coaches and management are doing everything to ensure that the team plays well.

— General Director Alexey Volkov also built the champion Avangard…

“I hope he builds a champion tractor now.” The city is waiting, the city needs it. From what I understand, Alexey is doing a good job. A true general manager that every club should have. A specially trained person, and he does his job.

— Vitaly Kravtsov has returned to Traktor again. What’s not working for him in the NHL?

– I don’t know, maybe he picked the wrong team. One way or another, he probably reports to the wrong coach. But there’s nothing wrong with that. You try your hand at America and return to Russia. It is clear that people will talk about you, they will discuss you.

But the main thing for a hockey player is to recharge his batteries and have a good season or two, bringing himself to a high level. And then, if he wants, he will go back and try his hand. The most important thing is not to get carried away, play hockey and have fun. Everything is in his hands this year.

“I will suffer for two more years and I will watch hockey from the sidelines.”

— During the preseason, we even saw Kravtsov come out to the center and stand at the throw-in point. Didn’t he ask you for advice?

– No no. We discussed many things, but we didn’t talk about them.

— And we also saw how Matvey Michkov tried himself as a center forward. I immediately remembered how you were moved from the wing to the center in the NHL. Is it difficult to rebuild like this?

– It seems to me that comparing here is not very correct. Hockey is a little different here and there. And as for Michkov moving to center, that means the coach saw him that way, realizing he could skate and play like that. Coaches’ decisions are not discussed. But the most important thing is that it merges with the decision of the player himself. RIGHT? So that it is interesting for him and that he himself wants to develop and play in this position.

Because the situation is very difficult. But if you have time and are allowed to develop like this, then in a month or two you will be able to noticeably improve your skills. You can make mistakes, but the main thing is to learn from those mistakes.

— What is the most difficult thing about going from the edge to the center?

– We can talk about it for half a day! And in a nutshell, the basic principle is that you run faster backwards than forwards. It’s the wingers who don’t do anything. Everyone laughs, but that’s really how it is. And the center must advance faster in defense.

— I was struck by your statement that hockey has already become different. Recently, fights were canceled in the Quebec Junior League. Where is your sport going in general?

– Yes, I have no idea! I will suffer for two more years, but then I will look at this pile of heads from the side. Well, fighting was banned – so that’s what the league management decided. I know many people who are against this decision. Opinions are divided and it is difficult to discuss them here.

— We also see a lot of cuts in the KHL. In preseason, they generally pushed for everything.

– Yes, it’s been like that all my life. Apparently, referees don’t get whistles in the summer. They then go out and whistle like crazy throughout the pre-season and the first two weeks of the championship.

And then we’ll give them cradles, and everything will be fine. The referee won’t blow his whistle all summer, will he? But I got bored here. He will whistle, and everything will return to normal.

“As a child, I had a task: to buy my parents a house and buy myself a car.”

— Do you feel a managerial tendency within yourself? Or maybe you will become a coach one day? You don’t take notes?

– No, I definitely don’t do that. I didn’t even think about it. It will be difficult for me to move to another role. My vision of hockey is a little unusual. I have difficulty building or training a team. This means you need to change your outlook. There’s a lot to think about here.

— Your disqualification from the Russian national team has expired…

— There is simply no national team.

– But is there any faith in the team’s return?

– Let’s see, nothing depends on me here.

— The 2026 Olympic Games are fast approaching.

“If they tell me to play, we’ll go.” No, that means we will go and beat the Belarusians.

– Well, it’s not a bad workout in May. Your opinion?

— I haven’t even seen those games, to be honest.

— Here Ovechkin was holding his cup. Have you organized your own activities for children this summer?

— No, I spent this summer entirely with my family. I was in treatment for a long time, went out on the ice several times with the children when they asked me. And there were so many wounds that are still healing. I just didn’t talk about it everywhere, I tried to spend time at home – with my parents, wife and children. We haven’t been to Chelyabinsk for a long time, exactly three years. So we had a real family vacation in the summer.

— When we talk to the children on the bench, what do they ask? What interests them most about Zhenya Kuznetsov?

— Recently they asked me about the stick I play with. They are interested. And I was the same. One guy asked how many times a week we worked out.

Well, such good children’s questions. In fact, guys are great at not being shy and asking. You should never be afraid that someone will make fun of your question. If you want to ask, ask. Because if you waste time, if you run out of time, it will be difficult to know later.

— If you remember your childhood, did you experience something similar, when a child could ride with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov?

— I remember that Alexei Kovalev came to Chelyabinsk with a master class during his trip to the regions. But I wasn’t my age, I was very young. He was the only professional hockey star I saw at that time. And so, you know, we had a lot of fun playing in the yard. We played hockey there, skated in the evening and during the day the lodge was always busy.

We didn’t need to bring stars, famous hockey players. We ourselves just loved hockey and always enjoyed it. We played football, basketball and all kinds of sports in the summer.

We didn’t need to be motivated. Because we had only one task: buy a house for our parents, a car for ourselves and leave the place where I grew up. I had this incentive. And when it’s there, you don’t need to look for anything else.

— When you lead master classes for children, do you have energy? Why do you need this?

– Of course, somewhere you remember yourself when you were young. While walking, I was afraid to ask, I dreamed of asking someone for a hockey stick.

But children grow up quickly. Today he is a 12 year old child – just like he was 16 years old. All these computers, gadgets. TikTokers are already playing hockey! What is he talking about?!

— Football bloggers work well with media teams. Do you think this is possible in hockey?

— There is always a perspective when money is invested. You need funding up front to get things going. And I think there is a lot of desire. And it all comes down to money.