Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov will be a healthy scratch Monday against the Arizona Coyotes, head coach Spencer Carbery announced, per the Washington Post's Bailey Johnson.
Carbery said Kuznetsov needs a "mental reset."
The club projects to line up as follows:
Carbery said Darcy Kuemper will start in goal, against his former team. With Kuznetsov out, expecting the forward lines to be:
— Bailey Johnson (@BaileyAJohnson_) December 4, 2023
Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson
Protas-McMichael-Mantha
Milano-Lapierre-Phillips
Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK https://t.co/lKyE5GAB6i
It's the first time Kuznetsov has been a healthy scratch since May 3, 2021, when he was late to a team function and sat for disciplinary reasons.
Kuznetsov produced just four goals and five assists in 19 games this season and has only managed one point in his last six contests. He's struggled defensively, too.
I wonder what the Capitals saw in Kuznetsov's minutes so far this season that made them decide to healthy scratch him. pic.twitter.com/Hba2ejnzn9
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) December 4, 2023
The 31-year-old reportedly requested a trade this past offseason. He has two years left on his contract with a $7.8-million cap hit, making him the third-highest-paid player on the active roster.
Kuznetsov has spent his entire 11-year career in Washington and ranks seventh on the franchise's all-time points list with 560.
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