Evgeni Kuznetsov reportedly leaves the NHL for good
After a stellar run in the NHL with Washington and Carolina, it appears veteran Evgeny Kuznetsov could be leaving the NHL for good this summer.
The Washington Capitals success through the past two decades has largely been attributed to Alex Ovechkin, but it can't happen without Evgeny Kuznetsov, who had a stellar 11-year run with the team, contributing to their lone Stanley Cup victory.
Now however, after leaving for the Hurricanes in 2023/24, it appears Kuznetsov is leaving the NHL altogether now, as it has been confirmed he will ink a four-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL immediately.
The 32-year old clearly has plenty of gas left in the tank after a solid 2023/24 campaign, but with his injury history, there's simply no team in the NHL that would commit to him long-term. This past year, he was able to tally 8 goals and 24 points over 63 games played, and now, he's betting on himself to return to All-Star form in the KHL over the next four years.
This doesn't rule out a return to the NHL, as he will be 36-years old when this deal concludes, but for now, this could be the last we see of a stellar Evgeny Kuznetsov in the NHL.
| POLL | ||
Will Evgeny Kuznetsov return to the NHL one day? | ||
| Yes | 59 | 24 % |
| No | 187 | 76 % |
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