Former Stanley Cup champion eyeing NHL comeback

After signing a four-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL last summer, it looked like Evgeny Kuznetsov’s days of playing in North America were over.  However, that may not be the case anymore.  His agent, Shumi Babayev, announced that his client will play in North America next season and that he has been in contact with several teams already.

The 33-year-old played in 39 KHL contests this past season, tallying 37 points.  However, despite the solid performance, the remaining three years of the contract were terminated back in April.  At the time, it seemed like he might simply land with another team in Russia but now, it appears that won’t be the case.

Kuznetsov last played in the NHL in the 2023-24 season.  He started the year with Washington but re-entered the Player Assistance Program in February 2024.  Upon being cleared to return, the Capitals placed him on waivers, and after he cleared, he was dealt with 50% retention to Carolina for a third-round pick.  Kuznetsov went on to record seven points in 20 games with the Hurricanes before adding six more in 10 playoff outings.  However, he requested and was granted a termination of the final year of his contract last summer to allow him to go play in Russia which he has now evidently had a change of heart about.

Kuznetsov has 743 career NHL appearances, notching 173 goals and 402 assists over that span.  That immediately makes him one of the higher-scoring UFA centers available on the open market this summer.

But the question is which version of Kuznetsov that teams would be getting.  He’s only a few years removed from a 78-point campaign in Washington but his 2023-24 performance saw him notch just 24 points in 63 contests despite averaging over 17 minutes a night of ice time.  Was that just a down year or a sign that he can’t keep up with NHL-level competition as much as he used to?

That’s a question that teams will undoubtedly be weighing as July 1 approaches.  On the one hand, there could be some upside if he’s able to come in and play in the middle six somewhere.  On the other hand, if Kuznetsov was a step slow two seasons ago, that could be further exacerbated now.  Assuming a deal is reached, it seems reasonable to think that it might just be a one-year agreement, one that allows both sides a chance to walk away if things don’t go well.  But just a few days out from free agency, it appears a new middleman is in play.