Kuznetsov had 19 goals and 21 assists in 49 games this season in the KHL. (Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals have been waiting all season to hear definitively one way or another if one of their top prospects, Evgeny Kuznetsov, would be coming to America for next season. It appears like they finally got that answer.

The answer is no, he's staying in Russia to play in the KHL for the next two seasons.

Kuznetsov has flip-flopped on this issue so much that John Kerry has been spotted holding up sandals in Washington. He has been in and out so many times that even the hokey pokey is tired.

The point is, it's hard to believe until next season begins and he's actually playing in the KHL. But this time it sounds like it's a done deal.

From Artem Kuznetsov of R-Sport as translated by Caps blog Russian Machine Never Breaks:

"It was a tough decision, I talked to my parents and decided to stay in Chelyabinsk for two more years. The contract hasn't been signed yet though. I've decided right away that I won't go to any other Russian team. If I did, it would be a VHL [KHL's minor affiliate league] team."

The forward said that he made the final decision himself. According to him, contract details have been settled, but the deal hasn’t been signed.

"First of all, I really want to make the Olympic team badly. We have a strong team, I'll get some experience and will play," said the winger, who also added that the Capitals, who own his rights in North America, have not yet been notified about his decision.

That was earler. By now of course they have received the news and declined to comment on the matter. They kind of have some more pressing matters at the moment in their second-round series with the Rangers at the moment.

It sounds like the heart of the matter is that Kuznetsov really wants to be part of the Olympic team in Sochi in two years. Unfortunately, there was probably pressure put on him that if he didn't stay in Russia he probably wouldn't be on the team. For somebody who's goal is to play for their country in its home Games, that's tough to turn down. Plus, you know, he's still getting paid pretty handsomely in Russia for his work.

The Caps are facing the likelihood of Alexander Semin leaving town as an unrestricted free agent this summer, but many were assuming they could just take Kuznetsov, a talented forward, and insert him in the lineup. Now they will have to explore other options instead, including possibly re-signing Semin, although I'd be surprised at this point if that happened.

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