ESPN: Washington surprised not to trade with disgruntled Kuznetsov

Athletistic/Hockey. Authoritative North American publication ESPN has shared its expectations for the performance of the Washington Capitals at the start of the 2023/2024 NHL season.

“The big question now is: Will Washington make a trade before training camp?

“Capital” is in the same boat as “Philadelphia”: we don’t know exactly what to expect from this team this fall. The Capitals traded several key players at the deadline and successfully completed the regular season. Some thought general manager Brian McLellan would be even more active in rebuilding the team this summer, including trying to trade the disgruntled Evgeny Kuznetsov. But these agreements never materialized. Washington’s only significant addition was Max Pacioretty, who is still recovering from an Achilles injury.

There is a natural concern right now about the overall depth of Washington’s roster and whether it will be enough to keep the team afloat until Pacioretty starts playing. A rebuilding franchise isn’t an ideal situation for new head coach Spencer Carbery either, but if things were going well, Washington probably wouldn’t be looking for a coach. McLellan still has time to make changes to his lineup. Can he capitalize and give Washington a better chance to win more games than he did a year ago?

Kuznetsov played 81 matches in the NHL last season and managed to score 55 points for his performance – he scored 12 goals and became the author of 43 assists. Note that the 30-year-old Russian has become the best assistant in the capital.

Kuznetsov’s contract with Washington is valid until June 30, 2025. His cap hit (average contract salary) is $7.8 million.