With three games remaining before the All-Star break, the Washington Capitals sit first overall in the NHL standings and, as expected, are led in scoring by a dynamic Russian forward.
But it's not the one you might expect.
Following a four-assist performance in Tuesday's win over Columbus, Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Capitals with 48 points through 46 games - ahead of the usual suspects in Washington, namely Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
Not only that, Kuznetsov now has more points than any player in the league not named Patrick Kane, Jamie Benn, or Tyler Seguin.
Backstrom and Ovechkin aren't far behind, with 44 and 42 points respectively. Kuznetsov's emergence, however, is proving to be key in terms of complementing the pair, as evidenced by this primary assist drawn on an early second-period power-play goal during the win over the Blue Jackets.
Kuznetsov has also demonstrated an ability to be responsible without the puck, boasting a team-high plus-25. For those who look down on the statistic in the age of more advanced metrics, he's also a positive possession player, having been on the ice for more shot attempts for than against at five-on-five.
Now, one can't discount the impact of offseason additions T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams, or the Vezina-type performance to date from Braden Holtby.
But Kuznetsov's presence in the lineup, and, more importantly, his breakout performance gives the Capitals a much more potent and balanced attack. No longer does Washington rely on two star players to carry the load.
"We're working hard, all four lines. That's why were successful," Backstrom said following Tuesday's win.
The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
Drafted 26th overall in 2010, Kuznetsov remained in Russia until 2013, which probably explains why 25 other teams hesitated to select him. His impact on the team can't be understated, and he's proving to be well worth the wait for Washington.
The fact he's signed to a team-friendly deal worth $3 million a year is a major bonus, but at this rate, he'll be in line for a massive raise come the summer of 2017, when's he's scheduled to become a restricted free agent.
For now, the Capitals have their best shot at their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and Kuznetsov is proving to be one of the most important pieces in that puzzle.
