Evgeny Kuznetsov's NHL career deserves more credit

The Carolina Hurricanes announced Wednesday they were placing center Evgeny Kuznetsov on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. Kuznetsov, 32, is reportedly heading back to the KHL in Russia after ten seasons in the NHL.

Despite an inconsistent career, Kuznetsov deserves some praise for his Stanley Cup-winning efforts with the Washington Capitals — the team that drafted him in the first round in 2010.

Kuznetsov spent all but a few months of his career in Washington, having been traded to Carolina at the 2024 deadline, posting 575 points over 743 games. But his most memorable score was in 2018 to eliminate the rival Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime of Game 6 in the Stanley Cup second round.

Kuznetsov would finish second in Conn Smyth voting after Washington eventually lifted the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas, scoring the most points in the playoffs that summer. But since then he only posted one more season with near-career highs in 2021-22 with 78 points.

The Chelyabinsk, Russia native could not find consistent and motivated play on the ice in recent seasons and found himself a healthy scratch for stretches and also suspended three games in 2019 for "inappropriate behavior."

Kuznetsov struggled with off-ice issues too. He was handed a four-year ban from international competition in 2019 for testing positive for cocaine and entered the NHL's player assistance program in February to address his personal problems.

Those struggles don't define Kuznetsov as a player, however. The clutch goals and flashes of brilliance he displayed for Washington warrant inclusion among the franchise and league's legendary annals.

Washington welcomed Kuznetsov back to Capital One Arena, shortly after he was traded in March, to a deserved standing ovation and tribute.

During the 2024 playoffs, Kuznetsov found a burst of success recording six points in ten games for Carolina. But he still could not sustain it, winding up a healthy scratch in an elimination game which would unfortunately be his last.

Despite a competitively tragic ending to what should have been a promising career, Kuznetzov's on-ice accomplishments should still receive generous applause from Washington fans and hockey fans alike.