Veteran Finds Himself as a Healthy Scratch in Washington

The Washington Capitals have decided to send a message to one of their veteran players. Head coach Spencer Carbery says he's making Evgeny Kuznetsov a healthy scratch, adding he needs a 'mental reset.'

Kuznetsov has just one assists in his last five games. He's gone from the Caps top line, to the fourth line, to getting benched during a game, and now being made a healthy scratch.

Despite a very slow start, Washington suddenly finds itself in third place in the Metro Division thanks to goaltending provided by Charlie Lindgren, who is having his best season ever in the NHL so far. Kuznetsov, in the meantime, has 4 goals and 9 points in 19 games, and is a minus-5. This will be Kuznetsov's first time as a healthy scratch since 2021, when he sat for disciplinary reasons.