Capitals Cut Ties: Kuznetsov's Departure Marks End of an Era

Evgeny Kuznetsov left the Washington Capitals,

[{"selector":"#anim-03d154a9-de78-4e7c-9ea5-8bbfb55e514c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2e7da65-8b41-4f88-8f93-94aca2eba26f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb17ad80-177f-4012-bc92-741ac63cd411","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 241.24579%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

one month after he signed up for the NHL's player assistance program.

[{"selector":"#anim-66997e94-ce87-4c17-8292-116630e37bbe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aea98894-a0be-4c35-850f-eb036bd8e4ee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b5a71ac-c90a-400f-ab7e-5f7030c7c8e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 159.22220%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The decision was made to give Kuznetsov a fresh start in

[{"selector":"#anim-3ac47f7d-8eaa-4386-8c61-44f4c0bb3a63 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dcec4b7-8f4f-4a80-820c-a07598acf688","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-232cd84b-7a87-4def-a6d5-13552ab7ba2a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 241.24579%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

the face of diminishing performance and ongoing rumors of conflict,

[{"selector":"#anim-ddc4b911-b879-4591-8809-4b047e57eb7b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb17a0ac-c3f2-4389-991e-15fca35b5f50","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddcb197a-ba1d-4267-9498-7779e4926f10","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 159.22220%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

according to general manager Brian MacLellan.

[{"selector":"#anim-48f41466-1132-4e65-a6e4-00423598d4f2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e1b6206-a207-4601-b0ce-c25c0e1b60c6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddf76762-a63b-4b22-b0f3-6d7cd850db07","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 241.24579%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

There is no denying Kuznetsov's influence on D.C. sports,

[{"selector":"#anim-6736f976-a6ab-4d7a-8226-52e069cd1ae6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71753da1-79cc-41d6-9cc6-77d15b402198","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d2b5cf3-0b22-4581-97c3-f882ed7be8b4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 159.22220%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

especially after he played a crucial part in the Capitals' Stanley Cup victory in 2018.

[{"selector":"#anim-aa1129ff-5363-4a61-952f-f4004bcd5c13 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8e91a48-8cab-4bb8-b279-26b472a2a512","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e3b8708-e244-402e-91c5-591721de2bf1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 159.22220%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

His departure was due to inconsistent play and off-ice problems, despite his skill and popularity.

[{"selector":"#anim-a686c068-ae9b-4fa6-b482-6cd8c7547ad5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9d78ddb-84f6-4c42-ae6b-8707c686b14d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa6adc3a-8f64-45c2-803d-bc2625838084","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.82253%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Even though it is unfortunate that he is leaving,

[{"selector":"#anim-fbf6a15e-511b-4128-8aec-1d1d0c22c749 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef7f3fe7-c948-4bfa-a085-e7514c4cb617","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5266f21-cf21-402c-90f3-22f6804f99cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 241.24579%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

fans can remember his contributions and the splendor of 2018.

[{"selector":"#anim-36f76336-ae92-4d57-9a7b-d0329240f5b3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.314285720785616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ba6d103-18f2-4c97-9e40-721d41b441d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d4e8ec2-19e2-4e50-a873-c41ffc9c7be0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 159.22220%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]