Kuznetsov Will Return To NHL Next Season & In Talks With 'A Number Of Teams,' Agent Says
The former Washington Capitals center spent 2024-25 in the KHL.
Former Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov will be playing NHL hockey this upcoming season as he returns to North America.
Kuznetsov’s agent Shumi Babayev announced on Telegram that he’s been in contact with multiple NHL teams about Kuznetsov and that he will return to the league this season.
“I’ve already spoken with a number of clubs about Evgeny’s contract in the NHL,” Babayev wrote. “I’ve decided that next year, he will play in North America.”
Kuznetsov spent last season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg after terminating his NHL contract at the end of the 2023-24 season, where he saw himself traded from the Capitals to the Carolina Hurricanes amid ongoing struggles with consistency.
In 39 games with SKA last season, he had 37 points while dealing with injury.
With a move back to the NHL, Babayev believes that Kuznetsov will be able to show more.
“I have big questions about how he was utilized (in the KHL). Until December, he was one of the best players, then the (struggles) began. It was mentally hard for him,” Babayev told Legalbet, per a DeepL translation. “I think Evgeny hasn’t said his last word in the NHL. He’ll be able to prove himself better there, I think his potential in the NHL is higher.”
Babayev also told Championat that they are in preliminary discussions regarding next steps, and noted that Washington will not be given priority. He also said that he will not be considering any options where Kuznetsov would have to spend time in the AHL.
“There’s no such thing as (a team) being given priority,” he said. “We’ll be looking for a team where he’s needed. That’s the most important thing.”
Kuznetsov spent 11 years with the Capitals organization, putting up 568 points in 723 games. He had 17 points in 43 games in 2023-24 before entering the NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Following time in the program, Kuznetsov was waived and assigned to the AHL’s Hershey Bears before being traded to the Hurricanes, where he had seven points in 20 regular-season games before adding six points in 10 playoff games.