A previous report indicated that former Washington Capitals first-round pick Evgeny Kuznetsov would be staying in Russia playing in the Kontinental Hockey League until at least 2014, but according to the Washington Post he'll remain in the KHL at least one more year.
Evgeny Kuznetsov Staying In Russia For At Least 1 More Year, Capitals GM Says
“We’ve talked to the agent. It doesn’t appear that he’s going to make it over for next season,” McPhee said. “He’s a young guy...We understand why he might not want to leave yet. But at some point he’ll want to come to this league. It’s the best league in the world. He’s a heck of a player so when he’s ready to come we’ll be ready for him.”
The Capitals could be losing second leading scorer Alexander Semin to free agency, so the hope was to add Kuznetsov for an injection of offense into the lineup. It does not appear that the Capitals will see their 20-year-old first round pick next season, however.
For more on Kuznetsov and the Capitals, head over to the SB Nation blog Japers’ Rink and SB Nation DC. Be sure to stay tuned to SBN’s NHL hub for more news and analysis.
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