The Washington Capitals drafted 18-year-old Russian center Evgeny Kuznetsov with the 26th selection in the 2010 NHL Draft in Los Angeles Friday night.
Kuznetsov played in the Kontinental Hockey League last season as a 17-year-old. He was a part of Chelyabinsk Traktor in the KHL, which is the same team and hockey school that produced Alexander Semin, who is apparently close with Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov has two years left on his KHL contract and will surely play in North America when his contract ends, although he’ll try to come to North America earlier than two years from now. But he’ll definitely be in Washington for developmental camp in July. Alex Ovechkin called Kuznetsov after he was drafted to welcome him to the organization.
Kuznetsov played for the Russians in the World Junior Championships this past winter (the John Carlson tournament), scoring two goals in six games. He also participated in the under-18 version of the World Junior Championships, recording 12 points in seven games, which included five goals. Capitals’ scouting director Ross Mahoney felt that Kuznetsov could have been the best player in the U-18 tournament.
The Capitals, drafting 26th in the first round, had Kuznetsov 12th on their big board. General manager George McPhee looked into trading up with the ten teams ahead of them in the draft order to assure that they would get Kuznetsov, but they could not pull off a deal, obviously. Fortunately for the Capitals, Kuznetsov was still available at 26, and McPhee called Kuznetsov’s selection a unanimous choice.
When I was watching the Capitals announce Kuznetsov as their selection, the quick scouting report that the Toronto Sports Network gave on him was something to the tune of, “Russian, extremely talented, dynamic skills, inconsistent, doesn’t bring it every night.”
Call me crazy, but that sounded kind of familiar. Apparently, though, Kuznetsov is more of a passer than Semin was at the same age. Also unlike Semin, Kuznetsov isn’t afriad to speak a little English. Apparently, though, Kuznetsov is one hell of a talent like Semin.
Here’s Kuznetsov speaking through a translator after he was drafted by the Capitals:
Here are McPhee’s thoughts. The most interesting thing he said was that the Capitals don’t have the same concerns about signing Russian players because Ovechkin’s presence assures that the Russian players will do everything they can to get to North America:
Here’s Mahoney, the Capitals’ scouting director:
Here’s a Kuznetsov goal in the 2010 World Junior Championship against Austria:
Kuznetsov’s first KHL goal:
UPDATE: The Capitals drafted forward Stanislav Galiev out of Moscow, Russia at 86th overall and is good buddies with Kuznetsov. Galiev, who is a big fan of Semin was rated the 37th-best player in the draft by The Hockey News (be honest, Capitals’ fans — how many of you are scared by all the Semin comparisons in this draft?). The Capitals selected German goaltender Phillip Grubauer out of Winsdor, Ontario from the Winsdor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League with the 112th overall selection, as they moved up a bit to get him. The selection of Grubauer, the 47th-best player according to The Hockey News, left the Capitals with three of The Hockey News’ top 60 players even though the team had only one pick in the first 85 selections overall in the draft (so maybe there is something to the Capitals being able to draft talented Russians that other teams shy away from due to signability concerns). Center Caleb Herbert went to the Capitals with the 142nd overall pick, while defenseman Sam Carrier came to the organization at the 176th overall selection.
Here’s Galiev scoring a goal: