Washington Capitals and Evgeny Kuznetzov's Ties Likely Cut Forever Despite Possible NHL Return

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated May 25, 2025 10:52 AM ET

Despite a potential return to the NHL being possible for Evgeny Kuznetzov, a return to the Washington Capitals, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2018, isn't likely.

The door is apparently open for former Washington Capitals Stanley Cup-winning forward Evgeny Kuznetzov to return to the NHL, but if it happens, it likely won't be back with the franchise that he played with for so many years.

Kuznetzov, who returned to his native Russia to play for SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL, recently had his contract mutually terminated by the club and is now a free agent.

His agent indicated that while they are in talks with other KHL clubs, they'd accept a deal to return to North America if the right offer came along.

But per Capitals writer Sammi Silber of The Hockey News, the Capitals aren't likely to show interest in a reunion with their former star if he does return to the NHL.

Looking at what's next, Kuznetsov could very well be back in the NHL, though a reunion with the Capitals, who will explore options at third-line center this offseason, isn't likely.
While a year is plenty of time for change, it doesn't seem likely that he would reunite with the Capitals, and the team may be hesitant to take another chance on him after struggles on and off the ice.

Not only that, Washington's goal is to get younger, and therefore, the team is more likely to fill that role with internal prospects or other young players on the market.

Kuznetzov played several years for the Capitals, helping them to the franchise's 1st and only Stanley Cup to date in 2018; he was later traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he briefly played before returning to Russia to play in the KHL.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: