Earlier this week, Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov reacted to a report that he was rated as having one of the league’s the “worst” contracts. On July 31, Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic published a story about the efficiency of NHL contracts on a team-by-team basis, ranking the teams and listing the ratings of individual players. The Capitals were rated 25th overall and Kuznetsov was rated near the bottom for the Capitals.
Kuznetsov’s contract is $7.8 million for three more years. Its surplus value was rated at -$ 9.4 million” and its efficiency at 10%. The most efficient contract among all Russians was that of Andrei Svechnikov of the Carolina Hurricanes, who is earning $7.8 million over six more years. His contract’s surplus value is $ 17.1 million and its efficiency is 77%.
Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals is just ahead of Kuznetsov’s for efficiency, as he will earn $9.5 million for three more years. His contract has a surplus value of -$ 8.8 million and an efficiency of 21%.
From The Athletic
Kuznetsov discussed his reaction to the The Athletic rating on the telegram channel, Hockey on Kinopoisk.
“It’s okay. I’m not going to prove anything to anyone. As I said, for me there was only one task – to heal injuries. Then we’ll see. Everyone can talk, but no one climbs into the depths, no one finds out what the problem was, the reason,” said Kuznetsov.
“Probably, people don’t care. The main thing is to discuss superficial information, to rot someone, to pollute. Probably, the whole point of life in this is to read such nonsense. This is something that people are always interested in. And good interviews, empathy – this is something that no one needs, added Kuznetsov. “It has always been, is and will be in the press.'”
Kuznetsov, who posted 24 Goals and 78 Points in 79 Games Played in the 2021-22 season, recorded just 12 and 55, respectively, in 81 contests in 2022-23.
The 31-year old forward, who has played his entire 10-season career in Washington, has once again found himself in the offseason trade rumor mill. He was not asked about this in his end-of-season exit interview, although Kuznetsov described his emotions surrounding the team’s failure to play into the summer as “very low”.
By Diane Doyle
Thank you for posting this story Diane!
I’ll be Da**ed if I’ll pay one red cent to “The Athletic” for their “coverage.” It’s not One Red Cent better than anybody else’s. There – I was negative on Internet Comment, violating my own rules. But it’s principle. This is internet. Content is free — unless one is stupid enough to shell out for it. That includes the New York Times (barf!), The Athletic and many others
Back to Kuznetsov. His contract is “rated” as junk by The Athletic, and they don’t like Ovechkin’s or Tom Wilson’s for that matter. In fact they dislike basically ALL of the Caps major contracts. It’s another way of saying The Caps Best Players Stink. Many on this site agree with that assessment. Fair Enough! That’s why “Comment Sections” were invented
But Coaching gets a pass for the failures of the past five years. Ownership and GM sure have been pilloried for five years of failure. The Caps roster contains World-class talent. Past Performance only? Every season begins with most of the NHL paying its players for past performance. This season is the best one in decades to put the whole operation – Players and Coach and Owner and GM – on the spot.
i REALLY like Kuznetsov’s defiant evaluation of his $ukky contract and performance. Good for Kuzy! That was then. This is now. The former Coach was a disaster. The New One is better. Bring on Game One against Cindy Crosby and the Pittsburgh Petunias
How do you suggest journalists eat?
Lol
I support this site. I pay for athletic. Good Journalists work hard and bring good insights and spur on discussion. I’ll support that. Opinions are free. I like those too.
A player who is about to break the all-time NHL record for goals has a “bad” contract? LOL.
It’s responses like this that make you remember why you love Kuzy. What a guy.
No mention of Backstrom making the list of the top10 worst contract in the league?
He’s listed right below Kuzy in graphic above.
Few days before that article came out the Athletic released their list of the top 10 worst contract. No mention of it by anyone covering the Caps.
For whatever reason, the Russian press thought it was more worthy of coverage than the Caps media did. (Generally, Dom’s model has never been high on the Caps but they were higher on them before last season, which turned out to be a disaster for the Caps.)
Kuzy blaming “couch journalists” but he’s the one putting all of this out there, and stirring the pot. He did no Russian interviews last offseason. This summer, four so far.
Good point. 👊
Great conversation piece, Gentlemen! Thank goodness for Kuznetsov.
All contracts are good ones if you win. They all s**k if you lose.
It’s is less than 40 days until Caps Training Camp?
Bobby Nardella just fled to Sweden. NovaCapsFans analysis? Thanx
My guess is that Nardella figured an NHL contract wasn’t forthcoming so might as well play in Europe rather than the minors.
His window essentially closed, as younger prospects jumped ahead of him. He was primed for a look a season ago, but suffered an injury, which basically closed the door on his chances. At 5’-9”, I think that also ultimately had something to do with it, as he was essentially replaced by Hardy Haman Aktell, 6’-4”. Nardella was an offensive threat, but his defense was average.
Injures derail a lot of careers. I fear that with Malenstyn. He was borderline 2 years ago. Should have been a full NHLer last year. Lots of injuries. And same with Alexyev earn in his career. Same with LuJo. Not to mention all of the Caps. Cut those in half and it is a different team. Of flip side lots of games for Lapiere last year. Can Miro come along after cancer. We deserve some good shit on this front.
I would be more encouraged if Kuznetsov vowed to make every effort to reverse this perception – let’s hope he’s over his phantom injury. Ovie’s being paid for his Career NHL accomplishments, and I guess that’s OK; as much as I love Backstrom, giving him that contract and this time seems way over-generous (and will he really forgo it if he can’t play up to his previous standards).
I suspect this article is based on both performance and Cap hip last year (not even sure it takes Term into affect. And nobody had good value last year. I’m surprised Milano and Strome are so bad though.
Never trust the Athletic Pay for news and inside scoops to read? Anyone who pays the Athletic is an idiot. Controlled media