Elliotte Friedman weighs in on Evgeny Kuznetsov rumors wanting to leave Capitals - "Potentially headed towards a divorce"

Sports analyst Elliotte Friedman recently weighed in on the rumors surrounding Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov's desire to leave the team. According to Friedman, Kuznetsov has been asking for a trade through his agent for the past two years, but the Capitals were not willing to comply with his request.

"Kuznetsov was a major reason they won the Stanley Cup in 2018. He gave them an element they always dreamed of when they drafted him, a killer 1-2 punch with (Nicklas) Backstrom and people would not be able to handle it and that is exactly what happened," said Friedman on 32 Thoughts podcast.

However, Evgeny Kuznetsov's performances over the past few seasons have not lived up to the expectations set by his Stanley Cup-winning campaign. In the current season, he has scored 52 points in 72 regular season games with a plus-minus rating of "-18".

Additionally, with some likelihood, the Capitals will not make the playoffs this year. They are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, trailing Pittsburgh by four points in the wild card race.

"He really hasn't been the same player since, he has not had the same attitude. He feels he has not been supported by the organization. The Caps and Kuznetsov have been potentially heading towards a divorce," Friedman added on 32 Thoughts podcast.

Evgeny Kuznetsov's contract with the Washington Capitals has an average salary of $7.8 million per season and runs until 2025. This makes him a difficult player to trade in a tight salary-cap world. However, the relationship between Kuznetsov and the Capitals has been strained. The team is reportedly disappointed in his performance and Kuznetsov is feeling unsupported by the organization.

As the Capitals continue to reshape their team, it remains to be seen if Evgeny Kuznetsov will be a part of their plans moving forward. While trading may be difficult, it seems that the possibility of Kuznetsov leaving the Capitals is becoming increasingly likely.

---

Evgeny Kuznetsov Requests a Trade for the Second Time in Two Years

The Washington Capitals are facing more turmoil as forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has requested a trade for the second time in two years. Despite being a key player in the team's Stanley Cup victory in 2018 and having 53 points this season, Kuznetsov's future in Washington looks uncertain.

With his proven track record, Kuznetsov is likely to be a valuable addition to any team looking for an experienced forward. Meanwhile, the Capitals must navigate this latest show as they try to salvage their season.