Trotz has theorized that once Kuznetsov displayed his impressive scoring touch, opposing teams started to focus on limiting his time and space. In the process, Kuznetsov struggled to adjust and lost his confidence, something he hasn’t gotten back yet. Trotz has encouraged Kuznetsov to occasionally simplify and work harder for opportunities.
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[Says Kuznetsov:] “That’s how I live, you know? I will change my whole goals for a couple good plays and make all five guys happy on the ice. . . . That’s fun time, when you have a chance to fix your game. I know some guys can play 15 years in a row at a high level, but that’s only like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Eric Lindros — they all legit, yeah. I’m not like these guys. I have to work hard and raise my game a little bit higher.â€