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Evgeny Kuznetsov’s bounce-back season earns him spot on All-Star roster

By J.J. Regan

Kuznetsov's bounce-back season earns him spot on All-Star roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Evgeny Kuznetsov will make his second career All-Star appearance as he was added to the NHL All-Star roster on Sunday, the league announced. Kuznetsov will replace injured New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox.

The 2021-22 season has been an incredible journey for Kuznetsov who has gone from trade rumors to an All-Star. After a lackluster 2021 performance, there were rumors that Kuznetsov would be traded in the offseason. He wasn’t and has enjoyed a bounce-back year with 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 42 games. In 2021, he had just 29 points in 41 games.

Kuznetsov will join teammate Alex Ovechkin who was voted captain of the Metropolitan Division team. The All-Star weekend will take place Feb. 4-5 in Las Vegas.

Nicklas Backstrom to step away from Capitals due to ongoing health issues

By Ben Raby
The Washington Capitals announced Wednesday that alternate captain Nicklas Backstrom will be stepping away from the game due to ongoing health issues. Backstrom, who turns 36 later this month, underwent hip-resurfacing surgery in June 2022 and returned last January. Backstrom struggled to find his old form this season, averaging just 14:34 of ice-time per game, while managing just one assist in eight games.
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