The ex-Capitals star said he has been battling an autoimmune disease.
Ex-Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov is feeling better than he has in years as he heads to the KHL to play for SKA St. Petersburg, as he explained that health issues hindered his remaining time in the NHL.
Kuznetsov sat down for an exclusive interview with Sport-Express and explained that his time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program this past year, as well as his struggles, were due to an autoimmune disease.
"I had rheumatoid arthritis," Kuznetsov said, per a DeepL translation. "I was taking pills and shots all year... I couldn't sleep for a year; I could only get two hours a night. I'm not one to complain, but I had to, and no one really believed me. (General manager) Brian MacLellan didn't even know that I had been suffering all year."
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that mainly impacts the joints. It occurs when the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in joints.
After putting up six goals and 11 assists in the first 43 games of the 2023-24 season with D.C., Kuznetsov entered the player assistance program after the All-Star Break. It marked his second time in the program; he entered first in 2019 after testing positive for cocaine. He was waived and traded to the Carolina Hurricanes after clearing the program.
The 32-year-old center said that he's been off medication for three months and is feeling much better as he begins a new chapter with SKA St. Petersburg.
"I hope (issues don't follow me to Russia). There are different reasons as to why certain things happen in life," Kuznetsov said. "One of them is motivation and understanding what responsibility I have. One mistake can disappoint a lot of people."
At the end of the day, he's ready to prove his worth to SKA and show that he's still an elite player.
"A lot of people close to me are waiting for me to shit myself. That's the most treacherous thing," Kuznetsov added. "There's motivation to prove to them I haven't lost my hockey skills... I haven't forgotten how to play hockey. That's the most important thing."
