Jason La Rose
WJAC Experience: Russia – 2008 | 5th Place WJAC Statistics: 4 GP 2G 2A 4P
NHL Entry Draft: Washington Capitals – 2010 (1st round, 26th overall) NHL Statistics (as of Dec. 7): 122 GP 22G 50A 72P
Other International Experience: 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (7th place) 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship (silver medal) 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship (6th place) 2011 IIHF World U18 Championship (4th place) 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship (gold medal) 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship (silver medal) 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (gold medal) 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (6th place) 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (gold medal)
At the WJAC: One of four 16-year-olds to crack the Russian roster for the 2008 World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alta., Kuznetsov was the second-highest scoring member of the under-age quartet, although the Russians slumped to their worst finish ever at the tournament.
After scoring once in a tournament-opening 10-4 romp over Belarus, Kuznetsov added an assist in a loss to Canada West and was held pointless in a quarter-final defeat at the hands of the United States before rebounding to contribute a goal and a helper to help Russia salvage fifth place with an 8-2 win over Germany.
After the WJAC: The 26th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, Kuznetsov stayed in Russia for almost four years, making two tournament all-star teams and winning an MVP award at the IIHF World Junior Championship, along with an IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship gold in 2012.
He finally made his way to North America late in the 2013-14 season, recording nine points in 17 games in a late-season audition before claiming a full-time role with the Capitals beginning in 2014-15. Now in his second full season in Washington, Kuznetsov is averaging more than a point per game, and has found a place in the top six with one of the NHL’s top teams.