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Evgeny Kuznetsov’s Day With The Stanley Cup In Chelyabinsk, Russia

Harrison Brown
kuzy_092Photo: @Capitals

After visiting Sweden and Germany this week, the Stanley Cup made its way further east to Russia for the second time this summer. Its first stop in Russia was Chelyabinsk, where Washington Capitals‘ center Evgeny Kuznetsov spent his day with the Cup. (Reminder, you can find the latest schedule of dates for Capitals players “day with the Stanley Cup” right here.) 

Kuznetsov, 26, received the Cup around 11 AM in Chelyabinsk.

Kuznetsov, who set career-highs with 27 goals and 83 points in 79 regular season games with the Capitals last season, then brought the Stanley Cup to the home of his KHL team, Traktor Chelyabinsk. During his five-season KHL career (all with Traktor Chelyabinsk), Kuznetsov tallied 65 goals, 146 points, and a -5 rating in 210 games. He also racked up 13 goals, 21 points, and a -1 rating in 41 playoff games with Traktor Chelyabinsk.

He posed for pictures with fans for a while with pictures of his NHL and KHL career highlights. There were tons of fans and media surrounding him and the whole place where he was with the Cup for pictures was very crowded.

While some people could not get a photo with Kuznetsov at first, he did another photo session before a KHL preseason game between Metallurg and HC Traktor.

Kuznetsov later showed the Cup to a little league hockey team and got his picture taken with them and the Stanley Cup.

Kuznetsov, who led the NHL with 32 points in the playoffs, took the Stanley Cup to the Traktor Chelyabinsk preseason game and was honored beforehand. He stood at the center of the ice while hoisting the Stanley Cup over his head prior to puck drop.

He took the Cup to the Traktor Arena Hall of Fame, where he was inducted into a few years ago of course. More photos from the arena event can be found here.

Later, Kuznetsov ate traditional dumplings out of the Stanley Cup for supper. Dumplings in Russia are traditionally filled with ground beef, pork, and sometimes lamb, and served with red wine vinegar, black pepper, and melted butter.

To finish off his day with the Cup, Kuznetsov had a party with friends and former-Capital Stanislav Galiev, who now plays in the KHL, joined him.

Capitals’ defenseman Dmitry Orlov will spend his day with the Stanley Cup on Friday in his hometown of Novokuznetsk, Russia.

CAPITALS RECAP

PREVIOUS DAYS WITH THE CUP

John Carlson
Alex Ovechkin
Michal Kempny
Jakub Vrana
Steve Bowman
Mark Nemish
Chris Patrick
Rob Tillotson
Brian MacLellan
Matt Niskanen
Jason Serbus
T.J. Oshie
Todd Reirden
Michael Booi
Madison Bowey
Ross Mahoney
Braden Holtby
Brett Leonhardt
Brock Myles
Scott Murray
Tom Wilson
Devante Smith-Pelly
Lars Eller
Andre Burakovsky
Christian Djoos
Nicklas Backstrom
Philipp Grubauer

By Harrison Brown

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