Evgeny Kutnetsov has rumored that he wanted to spend more time in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League before joining the Washington Capitals in the NHL. On Monday, the winger made it official by signing a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL.
#Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov has officially signed a two-year contract with Traktor.
— Alexander Zaytsev (@AlexandrZaytsev) June 4, 2012
The Caps selected Kutnetsov with the 26th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft when he was just 18 years old. If he plays out his Russian contract, he won't be available to join his team stateside until 2014. With Alexander Semin potentially head elsewhere, Kutznetsov may have earned ice time in Washington this season. He has mentioned making the Olympics among his primary goals before beginning his NHL career in earnest.
For more on Kuznetsov and the Capitals, head over to the SB Nation blog Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC. Be sure to stay tuned to SBN's NHL hub for more news and analysis.
