Evgeny Kuznetsov Coming To America...In Two Years...Maybe

What up Kuz, What up Kuz, What up Kuz, What up GangsTA...

The Capitals took Russian Evgeny Kuznetsov (Is Evgeny like Chris in Russia?) with the 26th pick in the 2010 NHL draft and now they have learned that he plans to continue playing in Russia instead of joining the Capitals next season. (Via Washington Post)

Kuznetsov played in the KHL this current season and was expected to come to America like Prince Akeem for 2012-13 but he has some other plans.  I don't quite understand how drafting a foreign player works in the NBA or NHL but I guess that is a risk a team takes when picking one of those players.  All I know is it is that drafting the "rights" to a player is annoying and frustrating.

In the NBA the Wizards decided to pass on a huge international prospect Ricky Rubio because it was known that he was going to keep playing in Europe.  Rubio was even using "going back home" as leverage to try to get certain teams to not draft him.  Rubio was drafted in 2009 and finally joined the NBA this season in 2011.  This season he was on pace to be considered for rookie of the year (before he got injured) and he was leading his team to an improved season.

Kuznetsov playing in the KHL for another season shouldn't really hurt his development too much, but if he is as good as he is hyped up to be then the Capitals who seem to be trending downward could really use him in the lineup.

I'm sure Ted will blog about it tomorrow...Somewhere the NBC hockey analysts and announcers are smiling...