Major turn of events for Evgeny Kuznetsov as he inches closer to new NHL deal
Unrestricted free agent forward Evgeny Kuznetsov is still undecided on where he will play for the 2024-25 season. It appears he might not play in the KHL after all, as he is considering a return to the NHL.
A week ago, Kuznetsov's time with the Carolina Hurricanes ended after he was placed on unconditional waivers, mutually agreeing to terminate the final year of his contract. Before this decision, it was reported that Kuznetsov planned to return to Russia and sign a four-year deal with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg. However, nothing has been confirmed by SKA St. Petersburg, and with their training camp starting in eight days, questions about Kuznetsov's next move are rising.
In an interview with Olesya Usova of Russia's RB Sport, Kuznetsov's agent, Shumi Babayev, mentioned that Kuznetsov might still play in the NHL next season, with 15 teams showing interest in signing him.
He added, "He just wants to play hockey and be trusted. He still has the ability to play for many years to come. Kuznetsov is in good physical shape If there was interest in those teams that count on him and let him show his best qualities, he would also consider them."
Babayev also stated that while Kuznetsov is leaning towards playing in Russia, he mainly wants to play hockey, have fun, and win a championship, regardless of where he ends up.
Kuznetsov, 32, spent 11 seasons in the NHL with the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes before his contract was terminated on July 17th. During his time in the league, he recorded 575 points (173 goals, 402 assists) and 394 penalty minutes in 743 games. The Chelyabinsk native also had 73 points in 97 playoff games and helped the Washington Capitals win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2018.
As Kuznetsov looks for a new team for the 2024-25 season, it will be interesting to see if any NHL team offers him a deal that makes him reconsider playing back home in Russia.
Credit: bladeofsteelEvgeny Kuznetsov reportedly undecided on where he'll play next season
| POLL | ||
24 JUILLET | 129 ANSWERS Major turn of events for Evgeny Kuznetsov as he inches closer to new NHL deal Where do you think Evgeny Kuznetsov will play next season? | ||
| NHL | 37 | 28.7 % |
| KHL | 84 | 65.1 % |
| Other | 8 | 6.2 % |
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