A few hours before the resumption of the NHL regular season after the break for the All-Star Game, it became known that Washington forward Evgeny Kuznetsov was sent to undergo a program to assist league players. It was created to provide support in overcoming alcohol or drug addiction, as well as solving various psychological problems of hockey players and members of their families.
Over the past month, this is already the second Russian who will fight the difficulties that have arisen in this way. Previously, Colorado forward Valery Nichushkin, who had one of the best seasons in the NHL, was included in the same program. The forward has 42 (22 + 20) points in 40 matches. However, since January 11, the hockey player has not taken to the ice in official meetings.
However, according to agent Alexei Dementyev, there is no need to look for any trends in this coincidence. It’s just that in Russia they watch their compatriots especially closely.
“In fact, this is a very common practice. As an NHLPA certified agent, I receive this type of information about North American players quite often. This is not some extraordinary situation, it just happened that one year Kuznetsov and Nichushkin needed such help,” said RT’s interlocutor. — Is it possible to say that some Russian players cannot stand the test of money in the NHL, which is why they have certain problems? I wouldn't relate this to what happened. Currently, Evgeniy is 31 years old, and Nichushkin is 28. They are adults and mature people who have been playing in America for a long time. It would have been possible to understand this in the first year or even in the second, but not now.”
Also, according to Dementyev, only strong individuals are able to recognize the existing problems and agree to the help of specialists.
“There is nothing unusual here for the average American. But it should be noted that in this situation, the one who asks for help already shows himself to be a strong person. Recognizing the situation as critical is a huge deal. I can only express support and, to a certain extent, admiration for both of our guys for taking this step. We expect a productive, beautiful game from them and wish them to please the fans,” Dementiev said.
At the same time, according to Sport Express, Nichushkin’s problems are not related to alcohol or drugs. However, the situation is alarming from the point of view that Valery abandons Colorado at an important moment for the second time in a short time.
Fans and North American journalists have not yet forgotten the last playoffs, when the Russian was taken out of the lineup after an away match with Seattle. Nichushkin missed five matches of the series due to an incomprehensible incident at the hotel with a drunken girl who was found in his room.
This time, “Colorado” gave the player’s comment on the official website, but he did not add much clarity. At the same time, the American press does not expect the hockey player to appear in the Avalanche lineup earlier than in a month.
However, it is unlikely that after Nichushkin’s return the club management will have a question about keeping the forward in the team, since Valery demonstrates an excellent game and without him it is more difficult for the team to score points, although he does it regularly: in eight meetings the Avalanche suffered only three defeats, and one of which in overtime.
Kuznetsov’s situation is completely different. The Washington forward is clearly failing this season. In 43 games, he scored only 17 points with a utility indicator of -11. As a result, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery sent the Russian to the reserve list in December, and rumors appeared in the media about his possible exchange to Columbus.
It is possible that such a rapid decline in the hockey player’s play is directly related to the reason for entering the program. She, as in the case of Nichushkin, is not voiced. At the same time, in 2019, Evgeniy had problems with prohibited substances. Kuznetsov's doping sample taken at the World Championships in Slovakia was found to contain cocaine. Then the IIHF disqualified the hockey player for four years, but he continued to play in the NHL.
According to the former striker of Spartak Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg Maxim Rybin, if Kuznetsov does not come to his senses, he may soon return to his homeland. His eight-year contract with the club, worth a total of $62.4 million, runs until 2025.
“I have long said that Evgeniy needs to put aside all the jokes and jokes and concentrate on his game. With all due respect to him, it seems to me that he is not fulfilling his contract with the club. We often talk about the rejuvenation of Washington, the departure of Alexander Ovechkin, but I think that they will most likely trade Evgeniy or he will end up on a buyout contract. In the NHL, no one will joke, and it may even turn out that he will soon return to Russia,” said RT’s interlocutor.
In turn, Olympic champion and Stanley Cup winner Valery Kamensky linked Kuznetsov’s inclusion in the program with an unsuccessful season. Evgeniy has said more than once in recent interviews that hockey has ceased to bring him pleasure, and more recently he joked about the imminent end of his career.
“When I spoke, the players also calmly turned to such help. The player is older, maybe the season is not going well, everything happens in life, and you need to treat it normally. Theo Fleury and Kevin Stevens contacted us, many resorted to such help, returned and then played even better. There is nothing shameful here. The program allows you to recover psychologically,” TASS quotes Kamensky.
At the same time, Kuznetsov himself admitted in September that he had been seeing a specialist for four years. But it seems that this was not enough.
“We have it in Russia: a psychologist means that you are a moron, you need to be treated, right? But in the end it turned out that this was one of the best decisions in my life - working with a psychologist. It’s cool, you just need to find your own,” Kuznetsov said in an interview with the Slippery Ice YouTube channel.
We can only hope that the measures taken by the league and clubs will really help Russian hockey players reboot, and they will continue to delight fans with their brilliant play in the NHL.