Yevgeny Kuznetsov: winning the Olympic gold medal is my dream

- Last year's World Cup gold medal is my biggest achievement so far. Among others are 2011 U20 World Cup gold medals and Gagarin Cup finals. The next goal for me is the Olympic gold. This has always been my lifelong dream. Even if you win it once, twice, three times, you will always crave for fourth, fifth and so on.

Even if you don't make it to Sochi, chances are you will still be able to appear at the Olympics in 2018 or later.
Sure, it is possible to get to the Olympic team even when you are 50 provided you work hard and show a certain level of consistency in your performance.

Are you a Traktor player for the next season?
My contract with Traktor expires in 2014, but then I want to move on and try myself in the NHL. I think it would be wrong if I were to stay in Russia after the next season was over. If it were to happen, I would start thinking about career possibilities. Traktor has begun approaching me about new contract. I'll tell you one thing - should I stay here, it must be a solid 5-year contract.

How do Capitals react to that?
They have been wanting me to go over the pond for two years now, and I would always tell them 'Next year'. I think it will not be the case this time. I really want to go to the NHL.

Could your decision be influenced by your (non) participation in the upcoming Olympics?
No, absolutely not. I have stayed in Russia to try to make it to the Olympic team, but my decision on whether to go or stay won't have to do anything with Sochi.

At last year's World Championships you haven't been an official member of the team for quite a while. Was that because you are attack-oriented, and there just wasn't a place for you in the first two lines?
You have to ask the coaching staff. There is team strategy where everyone fulfils their specific role. Ones play on the offensive end, others - on the defensive one. So, although I am more attack-oriented, I have been trying to up my defensive skills because I know someday it will come in handy.

During the World Championships rumors have been sending you to Dynamo.
Seriously? All I can tell is no one from Dynamo has approached me and no one has asked me about the transfer.

No one has asked Nichushkin either.
Well, there may have been some talk, I don't know - it could not have just appeared out of thin air. If an offer as such indeed came about, I'd certainly give it a thought. I'd talk it over with Traktor management and my family. Who knows - that transfer might have taken place. Traktor might have agreed to the deal to make some needed money that could have been spent on other acquisitions. You can't know what will happen tomorrow - life is hard and is full of choices.

What is your reaction towards allegations that your big salary causes imbalance in the team?
I have read many of those. People always talk, but there are things that don't leak into the media. Fact of the matter is, I don't think it is polite to count other people's money. If I am given a lump this big, this means I deserve it. I haven't stolen them - I earn it with my blood and sweat. People in Russia are so eager to discuss the money that does not belong to them instead of just respecting the honest, legal way of earning it.