Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid — Imagn Images
Former Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov has decided that he’ll be playing in North America this upcoming season, his agent Shumi Babayev announced.
Kuznetsov’s return comes after he spent this past season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, where he recorded 37 points in 39 games.
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“I’ve already spoken with a number of clubs about Evgeny’s contract in the NHL,” Babayev wrote on Telegram. “I’ve decided that next year, he will play in North America.”
Babayev also said that Kuznetsov has begun preliminary talks with multiple teams and is looking for a full-time NHL job.
When it comes to why Kuznetsov has elected to return to the NHL, Babayev said that he agreed to the decision after his experience overseas this past season, which saw him deal with injury and inconsistency after an impressive start to the season.
“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.”
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Kuznetsov last played in the NHL in 2023-24, when he split the year between the Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes. He struggled to open the season with Washington, putting up 17 points in 43 games, and then entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Following his return from the program, the Capitals waived Kuznetsov and assigned him to the AHL’s Hershey Bears before subsequently sending him to Carolina.
He had seven points in 20 regular-season games with the Hurricanes and added six points in 10 playoff games before he and the team mutually terminated his contract so he could play in the KHL.
The 33-year-old center spent 11 years with Washington, putting up 568 points in 723 games. While he’s not ruling anything out, Babayev told Championat that a potential return to the Capitals doesn’t take precedent over other possible landing spots.