Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov to Receive Care from NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program

Evgeny Kuznetsov will be unavailable to the Washington Capitals while he receives care from the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov will receive care from the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program, the league and Players' Association announced Monday.

Kuznetsov will be away from the Capitals indefinitely during this time. He can return to the club when the administrators of the joint and NHL and NHLPA program clear him for on-ice competition. As is typical with any player who enters the program, no further details are released unless the player decides to do so.

The 31-year-old from Chelyabinsk, Russia, wasn't on the ice for Monday's practice due to personal reasons, the team said earlier Monday. He did play in the Capitals' last game before the all-star break on Jan. 27, recording two assists in 18:11 of ice time.

In 43 games this season, Kuznetsov has six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 43 games while averaging 18:47 of ice time per game. He recorded 55 points in 81 matches last season and 78 points in 79 outings in 2021-22. He missed three games earlier this season due to illness and was a healthy scratch once.

This is Kuznetsov's 11th NHL season since the Capitals selected him 26th overall in the 2010 draft. Over 723 career regular-season games, he has 171 goals and 397 assists for 568 points, including four campaigns of at least 70 points. The center also has 87 games of playoff experience across eight seasons, with 29 goals, 67 points and a Stanley Cup win in 2018.

With more on Kuznetsov's season, career and the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, here's Jacob Stoller with video breakdown. For more on Capitals lineup changes during Kuznetsov's absence, visit the article on The Hockey News' Washington Capitals site.