Evgeny Kuznetsov wants to remain with Capitals 'probably my whole career'

Evgeny Kuznetsov hopes to have only one NHL home.

The 23-year-old forward signed a two-year, $6-million contract with the Washington Capitals earlier this summer. He knows he'll spend that time playing for his next deal, which will likely involve longer term and bigger dollars.

That scenario suits Kuznetsov just fine.

"Every hockey player wants long term, right? But I think my deal is perfect for both sides right now," he told Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post. "If I play good, we sign a long deal, it's not a big deal, but it's all about time, you know? I have to show not only one season how I play, like half season, I have to play two more years like that.

"I want to stay here probably my whole career. Why not? My wife like it here, my parents like it, I like it. Good city. Good hockey team, all-around hockey."

With 91 NHL games under his belt, Kuznetsov is expected to take the next step as soon as this season, building on a modestly successful 11-goal, 37-point 2014-15 campaign.

He showed more promising glimpses with five goals and seven points in 14 playoff games. If he's able to elevate his performance to that level or higher over the duration of this bridge deal, the Capitals will do all they can to make sure he remains in Washington.