Photo credit: championat.com

While the rest of his teammates conducted interviews on breakdown day, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin touched down in Finland for the 2013 World Championships. And we have some disappointing news: he only wore one pair of pants.

Ovi told Championat.com’s Igor Bragin that while he slept peacefully for most of the flight, the journey was not without challenges – all of the Great Eight’s gear was missing when the plane touched down.

“It’s hard to remember last time it happened. I think it was when I came home to Moscow once,” Ovechkin told Bragin, as translated by Fedor Fedin. “But it wasn’t hockey equipment and I got everything back on the next day.”

“Our equipment sponsor has all my sizes,” Ovi continued. “I think it won’t be a huge problem to deliver it. Of course, it’ll be some trouble for them to send it all, but we were assured that we’ll get everything at 9 am [Thursday].”

After getting a ride to Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena, Ovi was greeted by more reporters and conducted a ten minute press conference.

“The goal is to win the tournament again,” Ovechkin said, according to the IIHF website. “It’s very hard to do it two times in a row. We did it once, and I hope we can.”

Meanwhile, Evgeny Kuznetsov and the rest of the Russian national team were busy taking their team photo during the off day. It was weird.

Photos

All Photos via championat.com

Bryz = grumpy

Varly and third-string goaltender Vasily Koshechkin

Anisimov and Kuznetsov intrigued by Kovalchuk’s hand for whatever reason.

Everybody say cheeeeeeseeee (or stare menacingly at the camera)!

View the rest of Championat.com’s slideshow >>

Photo credit: Sport-Express

While the Washington Capitals season ended painfully last night after a 5-0 game seven loss to the New York Rangers, Alex Ovechkin will continue playing hockey. The Capitals revealed before his final press conference of the season that Ovi has been invited to Finland to join his comrades on the Russian National team competing in the 2013 World Championships. He will be flying over this afternoon.

“This morning they just called me and asked if I’m healthy and ready to go,” Ovi told reporters at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. “I said ‘Yeah, I’m ready to go.’ I’m still wanting to play. I don’t want to take off, I don’t want to watch games. I want to play hockey.”

“I’m in good shape,” he added. “Mentally I think I’m ready.”

Ovechkin will join top prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov, who plans to begin his professional career with the Capitals at some point after the Olympics next season.

Kuznetsov, despite matching or surpassing his goal and point totals from last season, has drawn some criticism from the Russian media for his struggles. He even got a verbal smack down from Vladislav Tretiak, the greatest Russian goalie of all-time before the World Championships.

“We want Kuznetsov to take responsibility,” Tretiak told Andrey Kuznetsov of Sport-Express. “There’s a lot of talk about with him, but I haven’t seen Evgeny playing like a leader with the national team. Though at his age, it’s time to take over the leadership role.”

“It’s time to understand that gold medal of Buffalo WJC is history and that you need to show yourself right now,” Tretiak continued. “Amazing chances like a World Championship roster spot won’t last forever.”

Kuzya wasn’t given a roster spot initially. The team lost their first three games before falling meekly to France and Finland. Against Slovakia on Sunday, Kuznetsov was finally given his chance, playing on the third line with Artem Anisimov  of the Blue Jackets and Islanders prospect Kirill Petrov. On Tuesday after scoring two goals for the gold medal winning Russia in last year’s World Championships, Kuznetsov tallied his first goal of this season’s tournament, a blistering one timer from the top of the left circle.

Kuznetsov scores at the 1:50 mark.

While Ovechkin and Kuznetsov are friends, Ovechkin has criticized the 21-year-old hometown hero of Chelyabinsk for staying in Russia, saying “I think he’s outgrown the KHL level” and “he needs to move on.”

However, when asked Tuesday about what he thinks Kuznetsov might bring to the Caps in the future, Ovi was terse.

“To be honest with you I didn’t see his game, but I’m going to watch his game soon,” he told RMNB’s Chris Gordon.

They will now try to win gold together for the second time in two years. Russia will play the USA on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Additional reporting by Fedor Fedin and Chris Gordon.

Kuzya skates with the national team. (Photo credit: Champtionat.com)

Evgeny Kuznetsov has been engulfed in rumors of trades to the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow and getting lured out of his current deal by Capitals officials. But speaking with Mikhail Zislis of Sport-Express, Kuznetsov cleared the air on both sides of the Atlantic. Kuznetsov squashed the rumors and restated that he’ll make the jump to the NHL next year.

From Sport-Express:

Is there anything behind the information that Washington has a representative flying over to Helsinki looking to get you over there sooner?

No, it’s a conspiracy. Don’t believe it [smiles]. I keep up with the people from the Capitals, talk to them friendly over the phone. Nothing new has happened in regards to that. They invited me to visit and talk. They know my plans well. I have decided for myself to spend the next year in Russia and then go to the NHL. Why should I rush?

Are the talks about getting traded to Dynamo worrying you?

Not at all. I’m planning to spend the next 365 days with Traktor. Don’t belive anything else. There are people who like to talk about everything, but they can write whatever.

You’re so confident as if there were no Nichushkin trade to Dynamo.

That was a whole different story.

Kuznetsov’s re-commitment to Washington is noteworthy, but his ability to speak authoritatively about his team’s asset-management decisions is a bit less certain.

Evgeny Kuznetsov denied on a breakaway by Dynamo’s Alexander Yeremenko during the Gagarin Cup Finals (Photo credit: R-Sport)

Sport-Express is reporting a potential trade between Dynamo Moscow and Traktor Chelyabinsk involving Evgeny Kuznetsov, one of the KHL’s brightest stars and a prominent Caps prospect. According to one of  Russia’s most popular sports publications, Kuznetsov may follow two other young forwards, Valery Nichushkin and Maxim Karpov, who have already been traded from Chelyabinsk to Moscow.

From Sports-Express:

After Valery Nichushkin and Maxim Karpov, another Traktor player may move to Dynamo: Evgeny Kuznetsov. According to [Sport-Express'] information, blue-and-whites [Dynamo] have started talks with Traktor about buying the rights and contract of the 2012 World Champion and 2011 World Junior Champion. Kuznetsov is currently with the Russian national team at the World Championships, but hasn’t been placed on the finalized roster yet.

If this rumor is true, Traktor is in a state of upheaval, and it’s possible Evgeny Kuznetsov may be headed to Washington sooner than planned– or not at all.

This would be a curious twist in Kuznetsov’s career. As a hometown favorite in Chelyabinsk, it seemed unlikely that Traktor would trade him away. But after selling Nichushkin and Karpov and not retaining the services of Deron Quint, it’s apparent that Traktor is shaking things up. It’s not quite a fire sale yet, but it may be one soon. As Sports.ru blogger Igor Eronko put it, Dynamo Moscow is in talks to acquire basically all of Traktor Chelyabinsk.

If Kuznetsov does get traded, his contract with Traktor (with one year remaining) will become inactive, and Kuznetsov will be obligated to sign with Dynamo on the same terms. If he does not sign, his rights in the KHL/VHL/MHL system will be held by Dynamo organization, and he’ll be considered a “conflict” player (KHL Legal Regulations, chapter 5, article 35, paragraph 5 and chapter 3, article 11, paragraph 1).

That means Kuznetsov might be able to sign with the Capitals this year. Situations like this have happened before. Last year, Metallurg Magnitogorsk traded Juhamatti Aaltonen to Traktor. Aaltonen then refused to sign with his new club and was assigned “conflict” status. He played the season in the Swedish Elitserien with Rogle BK. On the other hand, the KHL-NHL’s “Memorandum of Understanding” is not entirely clear on how this situation might resolve.

As you might remember, Dynamo advisor Alex Ovechkin (who moonlights as a hockey player) has publicly said that Kuznetsov made the wrong decision in staying in Russia for two more years.

Evgeny Kuznetsov in Team Russia practice facility. (Photo credit: Sovetsky Sport)

4PM UPDATE: A few days ago Team Russia head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov announced three goalies and 25 skaters, including Kuznetsov, who “would be travelling to Helsinki and Stockholm for the Worlds Championship tournament.” Not all of the players named by the coach will be on the Team Russia’s final roster. IIHF rules allow for the minimum of 15 skaters and 2 goalies to be named no later than today; players can be added to the roster at any time during the tournament, up to the maximum of 22 skaters and 3 goalies. While some teams have filed their full rosters, Team Russia is taking an incremental approach. They announced today the first group of players – 3 goalies, 5 defensemen, and 11 forwards. Evgeny Kuznetsov does not appear on the list. Kuzya may make the team later, especially if some of the Russian players currently involved in the Stanley Cup playoffs do not make a quick 1st round exit.

ORIGINAL STORY: Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov has been named to Team Russia for the 2013 IIHF World Championships, which begin Friday in Sweden and Finland.

Kuznetsov won gold in last year’s World Champs while playing in a limited role. Kuzya has been less than impressive in the last few months, earning Joey Crabb treatment by national team coach Zinetula “Bill” Bilyaletdinov, playing on the fourth line at the EuroHockeyTour tournament in Czech Republic. To his credit, Kuznetsov looked impressive in his limited ice time, which probably secured him a spot on the national team. After the tournament, Kuznetsov, who has been encouraged to tweak his game to a less flashy, more steady team style by Traktor coach Valery Belousov, complained about the “black cat on his shoulder” that’s been bringing him bad luck for the last half of the season. He told reporters that he has set a conditioning program for the off-season to come back in a better shape for the beginning of next season.

Traktor will sure need it. Despite retaining star goalie Michael Garnett, top line forwards Jan Bulis and Stanislav Chistov and second-line center Petri Kontiola, there are still a lot of question marks surrounding future of the Traktor squad. Despite being far from the richest team in the league, the club from hockey-obsessed Chelyabinsk has had two long playoff runs in the last couple years. Now they’ve lost their top all-situation defenseman Deron Quint, veteran forward Maxim Yakutsenya as well as few of the youngest members of the squad: defenseman Nikita Nesterov and forwards Maxim Karpov and Valery Nichushkin.

In slightly less important Kuzya news, Hockey’s Future has named him their Prospect of the Year. If you’re the world’s prospect even in your ‘down’ year, that’s quite impressive.

Photo credit: bezformata.ru

At the end of March, Ted Leonsis wrote on his blog about — at the time — two Capitals prospects that could have a dynamic effect on the franchise in the coming years. Leonsis said of Filip Forsberg and Evgeny Kuznetsov: “We have two former first round picks playing overseas who will one day don Caps jerseys and really excite our fans. We are hopeful that next season, one of the players will make our team, but they have to earn that right. Maybe at some point next season, fans could see both players in Caps uniforms, time will tell.”

Since then, the Capitals have traded Forsberg to Nashville and he’s already made his NHL debut, playing on the Predators’ first line and powerplay unit. But Kuznetsov’s situation is a bit murkier. Ted, while not directly addressing who are what, seems to be suggesting in his final sentence that Kuzya could play for the team next season.

Not surprisingly, since Mr. Leonsis’s blog post was published, we have been inundated with questions regarding Kuznetsov’s future.

@russianmachine Can Kuzy report to the Caps after Olympics and KHL season next year? In time for Caps last run before the 2014 playoffs?

— Luke Adomanis (@LukeAdomanis) April 2, 2013

After doing some research, we can see why Ted is hesitant on guaranteeing anything.

When Are The Olympics? Could Kuznetsov Leave The Team After It Concludes?

The 2014 Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia, from February 7th to February 23rd. If the NHL allows its players to participate in the Winter Games like it did in 2009-10 (which is no sure thing), the league will break for two weeks during the regular season. Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, where Kuzya plays currently, did the same thing in its inaugural season and will do so again next year too.

Kuznetsov’s contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk is ironclad and respected by the NHL. Basically, Kuznetsov can’t just leave Russia for the Capitals after the Olympics end. The only way the talented prospect could leave Traktor early is if he buys out the deal or if Traktor’s GM and he mutually agree to terminate it. That would be highly unlikely mid-season and during Traktor’s playoff push.

However, once Traktor’s season concludes, anything is possible. There is precedent for KHL players coming over at this point, most recently with Nashville’s Alex Radulov and the Capitals’ Dmitry Orlov.

Kuznetsov’s Contract Ends on April 30th, 2014.

Per the KHL’s Legal Regulations, chapter 4, article 16, paragraph 6: “[Player] contracts must end on April 30th of the year concluding the contract’s duration.” That means that once a team’s season concludes, such as Metallurg Novokuznetsk’s did in late February 2011, a player is still under team control until the first day of May. That season, since Metallurg failed to make the playoffs, Orlov asked if he could get out of his deal so he could start his professional career in North America early. The club, wanting to keep their hometown player happy, agreed and terminated his contract. A few days later, Orlov signed a entry-level deal professional tryout contract with Washington and reported to Hershey.

This may be the most likely situation for Kuznetsov, though McPhee would sign Kuzya to an entry-level contract if he wants him in Washington immediately.

So When Will Kuznetsov’s Season End Next Year?

Without seeing how both leagues will adjust for the Olympics next year, it’s hard to know 100%. But let’s concentrate on both leagues’ 2009-10 season. Since the KHL starts its regular season in early September — a full month before the NHL, the KHL’s Gagarin Cup playoffs start early too: March 7th. That’s five full weeks before the NHL’s that year (April 11, 2010).

The past two seasons Traktor Chelyabinsk has been one of the best teams in the KHL. Last season, they went to the Eastern Conference Finals. This season they lost in the Gagarin Cup Finals, being edged out in six games by Alex Ovechkin’s lockout team, Dynamo Moscow.

Let’s say Traktor Chelyabinsk goes to the Finals next year. Kuznetsov could potentially be available to the Capitals during the first round of the playoffs. If Traktor has a bad season and misses the playoffs altogether, he could be available in early March. Again, as long as he and Traktor can agree to terminate the contract early and Kuzya has a desire to continue playing, this is a possibility.

Wait? Aren’t There Roster Limits Or Something After The Trade Deadline? He Can’t Just Join The Team In The Playoffs Right?

The new NHL CBA allows the Caps to make unlimited roster moves within their organization before and after the playoffs begin. The only caveat is that they can’t have more than four recalls on the active roster at the same time, which would not apply to Kuznetsov. The Capitals also cannot have more than 50 players under contract at one time. If George McPhee is planning for Kuznetsov to come over next season, he will have the flexibility to sign him.

A good example of a NHL team signing a player and him coming over during the playoffs would be Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers. Last season, the former collegian player signed with the club the day of his team’s first playoff game. He made his NHL debut in Game Three of the Rangers first round series.

Does Kuznetsov Want To Play in the NHL?

After meeting him at Development Camp and following him over the last few years with my team, I think he absolutely does. I believe that the Olympics and money played a huge factor in staying in Russia until 2014. And really, he wouldn’t have a Capitals air freshener in his car and constantly wear Capitals hats if he wasn’t excited about playing in the NHL someday. But this is the x factor. Does Kuznetsov want to be here? Does Kuznetsov want to continue playing in 2013-14 after Traktor’s season ends?

Conclusion

Kuznetsov could potentially be available to the Capitals next season at the earliest, around March 7th, and at the latest, May 1st.

Additional reporting by Fedor Fedin.

Fifteen years ago, former Capital Esa Tikkanen had a breakaway in game two of the Stanley Cup Finals. It could have iced the game for Washington and led them to the franchise’s first Cup. Instead, his shot completely missed the wide-open net and the Capitals were swept in four games by the Detroit Red Wings.

Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov had his own painful playoff moment Friday. With Traktor Chelyabinsk trailing Dynamo Moscow in the KHL Finals 2-1, Kuzya had a chance to put Traktor in total control of game three, when he was sprung on a breakaway mid-way during the second period. At approximately 95 MPH, Kuznetsov performed his patented breakaway move where he fakes a forehand shot and then puts the puck waaaaaay on his backhand, trying to slip the biscuit past the goalie. It almost worked.

What a move. Traktor would end up losing to Ovi’s former KHL team 1-0, which will give Dynamo the chance to repeat as champs Monday in Moscow.

Regardless of Kuznetsov missing, his speed and skill was on full display once again. George McPhee must be salivating… or doing whatever an undertaker does.

Photo credit: Vitaly Gubin / HC Traktor

Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his team’s first-ever KHL finals goal and the fifth of his postseason, but his team couldn’t add to it. Dynamo took game one of the KHL finals, 2-1. In game two, Kuzynetsov picked up an assist, but Traktor lost again after allowing a late goal.

Early in game one, Dynamo’s forward Sergei Soin knocked Kuznetsov’s helmet off from behind. Kuznetsov didn’t retaliate, and Soin went to the box for roughing. Traktor didn’t generate anything on the ensuing power play, and a fast break by Dynamo’s speedy Denis Kokarev resulted in a shorthanded goal.

Midway through the second, Dynamo scored again. An aggressive forecheck by Sergei Konkov created an opportunity in front of the net that Soin converted on the rebound.

In the third period, Traktor had a chance to come back. 30 seconds in, Kuznetsov scored on this one-timer.

Then, top 2013 prospect Valery Nichushkin had a breakaway, but couldn’t beat Alexander Yeremenko.

Dynamo scored early again in the second game, Jakub Petruzalek capping off a nice passing play.

In the middle of the first period, Kuznetsov got an assist. He passed to veteran defenseman Dmitry Ryabykin, whose long-range shot was deflected in by Stanislav Chistov to tie the game.

As the second half of the game started, Traktor got a 5-on-3 and took advantage of it. Andrei Kostitsyn was first on the rebound to give his team the lead.

The third period was all Dynamo. Early on, Dominik Granak fired a low percentage shot that found its way past Michael Garnett. With less than three minutes to go, Nichushkin’s turnover behind his goal triggered a quick play by Dynamo that was finished by defenseman Janne Jalasvaara, whose shot got past a screened Garnett.

Later, Kuznetsov created a late flurry for his team by carrying the puck coast-to-coast, but Dynamo players were committed to block shots, limiting Traktor’s chances.

Kuznetsov takes a selfie at his locker after the game (Photo credit: Kuznetsov’s Instagram)

Evgeny Kuznetsov’s Traktor Chelyabinsk beat Ak Bars Kazan 2-1 in Game 7 of KHL Eastern Conference Finals. With goals by captain Vladimir Antipov and Andrei Kostitsyn (whose move to the Panthers is delayed again), Traktor pulled off an upset, coming back from 1-3 deficit in the series. Kuznetsov didn’t get any points in game seven.

Traktor, who has played in two games seven this postseason, both times trailing by two games in the series (0-2 and 1-3), will face Alex Ovechkin’s home team and the reigning champions, Dynamo Moscow, in the finals. This is the deepest Traktor has gone in the KHL postseason.

Dynamo beat SKA St. Petersburg 4-2 in the west finals for the second time in as many years.

Finals schedule:
Game 1: April 7, 9 AM ET in Moscow
Game 2: April 8, 11:30 AM ET in Moscow
Game 3: April 11, 9 AM ET in Chelyabinsk
Game 4: April 12, 9 AM ET in Chelyabinsk
Game 5: TBD in Moscow
Game 6: TBD in Chelyabinsk
Game 7: TBD in Moscow

Evgeny Kuznetsov is very excited for Vladimir Antipov’s goal (Photo credit: KHL)

The game might have been over for five seconds, but Kuzya (bottom right) isn’t done scoring.

Those who have read our site for years know that Evgeny Kuznetsov loves to taunt. Kayaking, push-ups, and playing-dead goal celebrations: he makes Alex Ovechkin and the hot stick look ascetic.

On Tuesday, as Traktor Chelyabinsk forced Ak Bars Kazan to game 7 in the KHL’s Eastern Conference Finals, Kuzya decided to shoot at the Ak Bars net as the buzzer blew. Ak Bars players did not appreciate Kuzya’s gesture, and the entire team skated after him at center ice. Kuznetsov, swift of skate, knowing his life was in danger, somehow avoided getting tackled. He did not, however, avoid getting punished: a 10-minute misconduct from the officials.

Kuznetsov contributed in the scoresheet, tallying a secondary assist on Jan Bulis’ powerplay goal eight minutes into the game.

Traktor has won two straight games to take Ak Bars Kazan into an all-or-nothing Game 7 on Wednesday. After a heartbreaking overtime loss in a 6-5 shootout in Game 5, Traktor and Ak Bars have gone back to the tight, defense-first hockey that both teams preach. In five other games, three of which went into overtime, the teams combined for 16 goals in 363 minutes of playing time– or 2.64 goals per 60 minutes.

After a dreadful start to the postseason, Kuznetsov has improved, netting four points in the first six games of this series.

Additional reporting by Fedor Fedin.