What They’re Saying
First Round, 26th overall – Evgeny Kuznetsov, C-LW, Chelyabinsk. Born May 19, 1992 in Chelyabinsk, Russia. 6-foot-0, 172 pounds, shoots left.
In Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington has chosen a Russian forward in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft for the fourth time (Alexandre Volchkov, Alexander Semin, Alex Ovechkin). Kuznetsov’s primary position is listed as center by the league’s Central registry, so this marks the third straight draft in which Washington has chosen a center with its first choice in the draft (Anton Gustafsson, Marcus Johansson).
Central Scouting Bureau (ranked No. three among European skaters)
Profile:
• Kuznetsov represented Russia at the 2010 World Junior Championships and was one of seven draft-eligible players on the young Russian team that finished sixth.
• He also participated in both the 2009 and 2010 Under-18 World Championships. In 2009 he helped Russia to a silver medal and in 2010, as captain, he recorded a team high 12 points (5-7–12) and a plus-eight rating in seven games to be named one of Russia’s top three players for the tournament.
Scouting Report:
“He is fast, skillful and talented. He is also a leader on the ice, he was captain of the Russian Under-18 team and he had an excellent tournament. He is very skilled.”