WASHINGTON — As far as Andrei Svechnikov is concerned, so long as Evgeny Kuznetsov can score, he can dance.
On Monday, prior to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Capitals and Golden Knights, Svechnikov was one of six draft-eligible prospects in tow to take in the pregame. Svechikov is the top-ranked North American skater available, pegged by many as the No. 2 pick behind Rasmus Dahlin. If he's selected as projected, he'll become the second Russian-born player since Alex Ovechkin's draft year to go in the top two, with Nail Yakupov being taken first by the Oilers in 2012.
"I don’t feel any pressure," Svechnikov said. "I will go in the top two or three guys, and I want to play in the NHL."
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Like many in the hockey world, Svechnikov is paying close attention to the Cup Final, but especially considering two of the Capitals' best players — Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin — also hail from Russia.
Svechnikov got a chance to chat with both countrymen Monday, weeks before he'll be in Dallas for the draft, which begins June 22.
"[Ovechkin] just told me good luck in the draft and you will go high," Svechnikov said.
And then there's Kuznetsov, who has been on a tear during this Capitals playoff run , and who Svechnikov seemed to think more resembled the style he himself plays.
"He’s a great skater," Svechnikov said. "Every time he just wants to be involved; he’s hungry every time. And he’s a very smart player."
And then there are those Kuznetsov dance moves .
"I like it. Somebody don’t, but I like it," Svechnikov said. "It’s very good."
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It ultimately boils down to Kuznetsov being a confident player. And why shouldn't he be? He most recently let the bird out of the cage after scoring the game-winning goal in Game 3, his playoff-leading 27th point, continuing to build on a Capitals franchise record.
"I have confidence," Svechnikov said. "But if you’re a star, he can do whatever he wants."
It comes out in bits and pieces. Svechnikov's English is getting better, especially because he came over to North America in 2016, joining the USHL and the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
"At 16, USHL was a great league, and a great choice for me," Svechnikov said. "I just want to play in the NHL and that’s why I’m coming here to North America."
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The other portion of his Rosetta Stone is Netflix -- "I watch about war; I like movies about wars" -- and has included YouTube into has diet, something Kuznetsov also did to adjust.
It's there where Svechnikov can watch Pavel Bure highlights. Both Bure and Kuznetsov, Svechnikov said, are great skaters. It's why he said he feels they might be better comparables than Ovechkin, even though Svechnikov's goal-scoring has made the latter an easy match.
"[Bure] is just kind of a similar," Svechnikov said. "He has a great speed and I have speed, too. A great shot. And just speed everywhere."
It's that skill set that has Svechnikov thinking he's ready to make the jump to the NHL now. It's likely he'll either go to the Carolina Hurricanes at No. 2, or the Montreal Canadiens at No. 3, two clubs that finished in the bottom-nine in the NHL in terms of goals-for.
"You can never be 100-percent, but I’m pretty sure I will play (in the NHL next season)," he said.
But in addition to the high marks he's received from draft analysts, Svechnikov is also drawing praise from another Capital countryman, Dmitry Orlov.
"He's already adapt because he play in OHL, and he's going to be fine next year to play," Orlov said. "He strong enough for his age and he gonna be able to play."
Orlov and Svechnikov are both represented by Todd Diamond and Mark Gandlar, so Orlov has been keeping tabs on the 18-year-old. So far, he too likes what he sees.
"He probably gonna be good player for a long time in this league," Orlov said. "It's always nice to see when Russian players get high draft pick and team wants to believe in them and give them opportunity to play.
"He's find his own confidence. He gonna be good player."