As per Pierre LeBrun, the Carolina Hurricanes have acquired forward Evgeny Kuznetsov from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. The Capitals will be retaining 50% of Kuznetsov’s $7.8 million contract.
The Russian forward recently cleared waivers following his return to the Capitals from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. This season, Kuznetsov has scored six goals and 17 points in 43 games for Washington. He’s on pace for just 32 points over an 82-game season, which would be the lowest offensive output of his career.
Kuznetsov was originally drafted by the Capitals No. 26 overall in the 2010 NHL Draft and has spent the entirety of his career in D.C. In 723 career games, the 2010 first-round pick has totaled 171 goals and 397 assists for 568 points. In 87 playoff games, Kuznetsov has scored 67 points, 32 of which came in the Caps’ run to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2018. In his career, Kuznetsov has been a two-time NHL All-Star and helped Russia win gold at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2014 IIHF World Championship.
The 31-year-old will be joining the Hurricanes who just recently acquired Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a blockbuster trade Thursday evening. Carolina currently sits second in the Metropolitan Division with a 37-19-6 record and 80 points through 62 games. The Canes sit four points back of the first-place New York Rangers and are tied for eighth league-wide with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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