Evgeny Kuznetsov clears waivers, has contract terminated amid rumored move to KHL

Evgeny Kuznetsov cleared unconditional waivers on Thursday and his contract was officially terminated with the Hurricanes.

The news came as little surprise after reports had emerged earlier this week that the former Canes and Capitals center was planning to go to play in KHL this upcoming season.

The Hurricanes announced on Wednesday that the two sides had agreed to part ways, which gives Carolina $13.8 million in cap space following his removal and means he walks away from the remaining $6 million of salary that he is owed.

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“Ultimately both sides agreed this was the best course of action for both the player and the team,” general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement Wednesday. “We thank Evgeny for his time with the team and wish him and his family the best.”

Kuznetsov’s time in North Carolina was short-lived after arriving in March around the NHL trade deadline and he left the NHL after a rather up-and-down career, a majority of which was spent with the Capitals who drafted him 26th overall in the 2010 draft.

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It had surfaced, that Kuznetsov was going to sign a four-year deal with SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL.

His agent did not respond to a request for comment by the Associated Press on Thursday about  Kuznetsov’s future.

With his expected decision to leave North America, he does help save both the Caps and Canes the $3.9 million cap that both teams would have had because of Kuznetsov – the Capitals had agreed to retain half of his $7.8 million cap hit as part of the March trade.

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Kuznetsov helped the Capitals win a Stanley Cup title in 2018, but he has dealt with several off-ice issues, including being banned from playing for Russia for four years in 2019 after he tested positive for cocaine and was suspended three games without pay for “inappropriate conduct” by the NHL a month later.

He entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in February and was traded after he came out of it.

Kuznetsov recorded 13 points in 30 games with the Canes this season and has 206 goals and 442 assists over the course of his NHL career.

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