Report: Ex-Capitals Star Kuznetsov To Return To Russia On Friday, Sign Multi-Year Deal In KHL

Former Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov's offseason saga appears to officially be coming to a close, as he is reportedly set to return to Russia and sign in the KHL.

Per MatchTV , Kuznetsov will arrive in St. Petersburg on Friday and sign a four-year contract with SKA on Friday.

Kuznetsov's agent had said that multiple NHL teams expressed interest in Kuznetsov's services after he and the Carolina Hurricanes terminated the eight-year deal he'd originally signed with the Capitals in 2017 earlier in the month. However, it looks like his playing days in North America are behind him for now.

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Reports also indicated that his hometown club, Traktor Chelyabinsk, was also interested in his services and was ready to match SKA's offer.

Kuznetsov spent 11 years in the NHL, primarily with Washington, who drafted him 26th overall in 2010. He put up 575 points in 743 career games and showcased his ability to play All-Star caliber hockey, but struggled with off-ice issues and inconsistency over his last handful of seasons in North America.

This past season, Kuznetsov struggled and ultimately entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program after the 2024 NHL All-Star Break, and also requested a trade from the Capitals.

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After finishing up in the program for the second time, he was placed on waivers as Washington worked out a trade and subsequently assigned to the AHL's Hershey Bears. Before making his AHL debut, he was traded to Carolina in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.

With Kuznetsov heading back overseas and his contract mutually terminated, his $7.8 million cap hit, of which D.C. was retaining 50 percent, will come off the books for both the Capitals and Hurricanes.