Kuznetsov Returns To Russia, Traktor President Sheds Light On Capitals Center & Responds To Possibility Of Bringing Him Back To KHL Soon

Traktor team president wouldn't comment on whether or not he'd consider bringing back the Capitals forward to the KHL in the coming years as trade rumors continue to grow.

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov made his way back to his hometown of Chelyabinsk, Russia, this past week, and it appears that he's also caught up with his his former KHL club, Traktor.

Traktor president Alexey Teksler, who also serves as the governor of the Chelyabinsk region, shared his take on Kuznetsov, stating that it's his passion and dedication that makes him a standout talent.

"Zhenya is a legend, a man who wholeheartedly supports Traktor... he's so emotionally invested," Teksler told MatchTV of Kuznetsov's character.

Kuznetsov's future with the Capitals is currently hanging in the balance, as a disappointing 2022-23 campaign, apparently building tension between both sides and a reported trade request have signaled that Kuznetsov's time in Washington could be coming to an end.

He has two years left on his current contract. Given the uncertainty surrounding Kuznetsov's next moves, Teksler was asked about the possibility of inviting Kuznetsov to make his KHL return and lace 'em up with Traktor. However, Teksler refused to provide any input there.

"This is a provocative question... the rest, as you understand, I will not comment on," Teksler noted.

In 81 games last season, Kuznetsov had 12 goals and 55 points for the lowest scoring rate of his career since he first started in the league, and his shooting percentage also nosedived to an all-time low of seven.

General manager Brian MacLellan didn't hold back on breakdown day, expressing his disappointment in Kuznetsov's season. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old affirmed that he was confident that he could bounce back. Last week, he spoke out about the continued trade talks and called 95 percent of those rumors "superficial," though he did say his agents were in touch with the Capitals.

 that the reports of his alleged trade request were "not quite true.

"To be honest, I learned about it myself from the press," Kuznetsov said on "Hockey On Kinopoisked, as transcribed by sports.ru and translated via Google Translate.

"I tried to [separate] myself from it," he added. "There are agents, they are in touch with Washington and are doing their work. The club is constantly trying to improve the lineup. If possible, I will be traded or someone else. I think nothing here depends on me."

Kuznetsov was under contract with Traktor back in 2014 but terminated that deal to begin his NHL career with Washington. Despite some run-ins with off-ice issues, COVID and questions surrounding effort, Kuznetsov has shown that he can be an elite All-Star player when he wants to be; it's just a matter of keeping his composure and remaining consistent.

If he were to return back to Chelyabinsk, he would see his career come full circle, but at the end of the day, Kuznetsov said that his passion runs deep and that his priority is to continue to prove himself and rebound following another tough season.

Right now, Kuznetsov remains with Washington, though there were reports that the team had been shopping him heavily. The Capitals were busy and working the phones at the draft, though a trade never came to fruition and No. 92 remains with the club with camp a little over a month away.

However, Washington isn't done exploring options, and MacLellan added on Monday that the team is still in the hunt for a top-6 forward and wants to revamp those first two lines. Whether or not that change will involve Kuznetsov shipping out remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Kuznetsov reunited with Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and more to play in Danis Zaripov's farewell game on Wednesday.

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