Evgeny Kuznetsov returned to MedStar Capitals Iceplex for more beer-league action on Sunday, July 27 — a night after participating in an autograph signing in Prince Frederick, Maryland. The 2018 Stanley Cup champion centerman suited up for the Wolves, facing off against Carpool in MCIAHL – A action.
After posting six points in his first outing of the summer, Kuznetsov, rocking a white jersey of his hometown KHL team, Traktor Chelyabinsk, scored a goal and added an assist in the Wolves 6-2 victory.
Throughout the game, Kuznetsov was observed laughing and joking with other players — even the refs, gaining a crowd of other beer leaguers who looked down from the balcony.
When getting a shift on the penalty kill, the former Capitals forward played keepaway for a good 25-30 seconds, passing the puck off the boards to himself and keeping possession from Carpool players on the power play. Kuznetsov tried the twister pass twice in an attempt to set up his teammates for goals. The most accurate passer on the ice by a mile, Kuzy had several impressive long feeds that landed on other players’ tape in stride.
Kuzy had a lot of fun trying to deke other players out, but felt some mortalness when trying to shoot to the top left corner and continually missing.
After the game, Kuznetsov participated in a handshake line and took photos with other players on the ice, giving them a story they can tell their children’s children in the future.
“My first reaction was pretty much shock that he was there,” Brendan Daly, a goaltender for the Chiefs who tried to stop Kuznetsov the week before. “When the game started it was actually pretty close. We were trading goals back and fourth. Once the second period started, he really turned it on. His deception on every pass and shot had me totally confused. He was shooting the puck so fast I couldn’t even react at points.
He added, “He treated everyone like normal teamates. He was laughing and smiling constantly. He would even chuckle with me after a save or a goal. Was a great guy and he made everyone feel special. For an average goalie getting a taste of NHL talent, playing against someone as good as him was very eye-opening and an experience I will cherish forever.”
Shortly after the game, the two-time NHL All-Star flew to Russia. Kuznetsov, who’s an unrestricted free agent, has been looking to return to the NHL, but his agent has said he’s open to the right KHL deal. Kuzy, and his team last year, SKA St. Petersburg, mutually decided to terminate his four-year contract after one season, allowing him to test the free-agent market for a second-consecutive summer.
