Evgeny Kuznetsov put his goalie skills on display at the Capitals practice on Thursday



Evgeny Kuznetsov put together a career-best year during the 2015-16 season when he scored 20 goals and added 57 assists for 77 points in 82 games, but he took a step backwards last year by failing to reach the 60-point mark.

This year, it looks like Kuznetsov has returned to his 2015-16 form as he’s already scored 12 goals and has 39 points through 41 games this season. On Thursday morning, the 25-year-old switched things up after the team’s practice as he strapped on the pads and put his goalie skills to the test.



Although he is known for his playmaking abilities, Kuznetsov spent some time playing between the pipes when he was younger and wanted to relive some of his childhood memories.



Kuznetsov asked Barry Trotz for permission before gettIng in the goalie gear today. Said he used to play goalie sometimes 5-6 years ago in Russia. — Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 4, 2018 Why'd you decide to that?



Kuznetsov: "I don't know. When I was young, I used to play [goalie] a lot, so it's kind of cool." — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 4, 2018

While Kuznetsov swapped his player stick and pads for a goalie stick and goalie equipment, Washington Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer did the same thing and put his offensive skills to the test.



Grubauer wasn’t the only Capitals player to test out Kuznetsov as Dmitry Orlov and John Carlson also put him to the test.



According to Washington Post reporter Isabelle Khurshudyan, this all started after Kuznetsov and Orlov placed a friendly wager, and it appears that Kuznetsov came out on top.



Kuznetsov said he and Orlov had something on the line. Kuznetsov apparently saved enough pucks to win. He asked Trotz for permission a while ago before playing goalie for 20 minutes. — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 4, 2018

This plan was approved by head coach Barry Trotz ahead of time and they’re probably very happy he let them go through with it.



Asked Trotz what his reaction was when Kuznetsov came to him and asked to play goalie one day after practice. Trotz: "Why?!" Then told him just to not get hurt. "You let them have fun." — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 4, 2018

(H/T Twitter/ikhurshudyan, Twitter/TomGulittiNHL)