Evgeny Kuznetsov

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Lore & Background

Kuznetsov won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, leading the playoffs in point-scoring with 32 points, the most by any player in a single postseason since Evgeni Malkin in 2009. Kuznetsov is known for his bird celebration he used throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, as well as the rest of his career, earning him the nickname 'the Birdman.'

In Their Own Story

On March 8, 2014, Kuznetsov entered the NHL with a short-handed goal against the Los Angeles Kings, though Washington eventually lost in a shootout. The following year, on April 27, he scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals against the New York Islanders to advance his team. By 2018, the stakes were higher. In Game 6 against Pittsburgh, Kuznetsov secured the Capitals' berth in the Eastern Conference Finals with an overtime winner. Later that month, during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, he dished out four assists, tying a record set decades prior. His celebration became as famous as his play; he debuted the 'bird dance' at the 2016 World Cup and revived it in 2018 because his daughter loved it. Teammate T.J. Oshie noted that Kuznetsov is among the top five players in the league, while Tom Wilson praised him for telling defenders to 'put my stick on the ice' before hitting it with a pass.

Reader's Guide

Kuznetsov made his professional debut in the 2009–10 season with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL. He was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2010 NHL entry draft. On 8 March 2014, he signed an entry-level contract with the Capitals. On 25 March 2014, he scored his first career NHL goal, a short-handed goal, against the Los Angeles Kings with under a minute left to tie the game; the Capitals lost 5–4 in the shootout. On 2 July 2017, the Capitals re-signed him to an eight-year, $62.4 million contract. In 24 playoff games in 2018, he had 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points. He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on 8 March 2024. On 17 July 2024, the Hurricanes placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutually terminating his contract. As a free agent, he signed a four-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg on 31 July 2024. On 9 April 2025, he and SKA mutually agreed to terminate the remainder of his contract. On October 1, he signed a one-year contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. On 8 August 2026, he signed a one-year contract with HC Sibir Novosibirsk.

Did You Know?

• Kuznetsov's series-clinching overtime winner in game six against Pittsburgh in 2018 secured the Capitals’ first berth in the Eastern Conference Finals since 1998.
• His four assists in game four of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final made him only the fourth NHL player to record that many in a finals game, the first in 22 years.
• Kuznetsov debuted the bird dance celebration at the 2018 World Championship when he scored an end-to-end goal against Matt Murray of Team Canada.
• He was suspended for three games by the NHL on 14 September 2019 for cocaine use after video surfaced on social media.