Athletistic / Hockey. Washington Capitals captain and forward Alexander Ovechkin spoke about his friend and former teammate Evgeniy Kuznetsov’s decision to return to Russia from the NHL. The 32-year-old hockey player signed a four-year contract with SKA on July 31.
“It was tough to see Kuznetsov and Mantu traded from Washington. We became close to them. It’s always tough when players change. On the other hand, we got to the playoffs when nobody believed in us. leaving for another team.
Kuzya and I have become close family. We talked to him after his exchange. We were and remain close friends. Am I surprised by his decision to return to Russia? Why be surprised?! Everyone has their own head on their shoulders. He and his family decided to return home and play in Russia. I wish him good luck and all the best. Without injuries and to please the fans with good hockey, “Ovechkin quotes RIA Novosti Sport.
Evgeniy Kuznetsov graduated from Chelyabinsk Traktor. Previously, he played exclusively for this team in the KHL. In the NHL, the forward managed to play for the Washington Capitals (March 2014 – February 2024), with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2018, and for the Carolina Hurricanes (March 2024 – July 2024). SKA traded Kuznetsov’s rights to the KHL in the summer of 2017.
Source: Sport
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
