Match TV was right that Kuznetsov wanted to leave Washington. All about 12 Russian trades before the NHL deadline

Evgeny Kuznetsov

Or: from Washington

Or: in Carolina

How they changed: for a third-round pick in the 2025 draft

The loudest exchange for Russian fans. Kuznetsov’s era in Washington is over – he played there for 11 years, won the Stanley Cup in the 2017/18 season and greatly helped Alexander Ovechkin in the fight for Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Under new Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery, Cousy’s game has completely failed, scoring just 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) in 43 games this season. As a result, due to personal issues, he was sent to a rehabilitation program for players suffering from various types of addictions, under the auspices of the NHL and the players’ union. And as soon as Kuznetsov left him, he was sent to the draft, where no one accepted him with a salary of $7.8 million per season.

Then Washington sent Kuznetsov to the Hershey farm club. And now he was already on the bus to Charlotte. But there was ultimately a trade with Carolina, and the Capitals will pay half of Evgeniy’s salary through the end of his contract.

In general, Kuznetsov had his last chance in the NHL, he had the opportunity to revive his career, and he himself said this after his first training session with Carolina: “It happened very quickly. This morning at the skate in Charlotte, I received a call, I didn’t even have time to say goodbye to my teammates from Washington. I want to thank the Capitals organization. I spent 11 years there, my two children were born there. This city will forever be in my heart, but alas, this is how I have to leave. This is life and I have no regrets. What happened is what happened, and I will always remember my time in Washington, it was incredible. And now I am opening a new chapter in life. It’s perfect – what I was looking for and what coincided so well.

Kuznetsov has long wanted to leave Washington. By the way, talked about it a year ago. Then all of America reprinted it and Evgeniy refuted it. But in the end, we got to what we were talking about.

Interestingly, Kuznetsov’s best friend, defenseman Dmitry Orlov, who moved to Raleigh before the start of this season, also plays for Carolina. If their motivation is channeled in the right direction, the Hurricanes will have a wild run at the Stanley Cup.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Or: from Ottawa

Or: in Florida

How they changed: for a third-round pick in the 2025 draft and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft

Tarasenko changes agents almost every year. The reason can be understood: for example, the forward spent too much time on the free agent market last offseason and could not find a team for a long time. It wasn’t until July 27, almost a month later, that Vladimir found a new team, signing a one-year contract with Ottawa for $5 million.

It was clear that Tarasenko needed to put up good stats to secure a new long-term off-season contract at the club he loves (and it’s not underdog Ottawa from Canada’s high-tax capital) . The statistics turned out to be correct – 41 (17+24) points in 57 matches. And the trade at the deadline seems logical: the Senators are once again excluded from the playoffs.

Yes, Ottawa received meager compensation for the player. But under the terms of the contract, Tarasenko could block a trade he didn’t like. And there were no contenders other than Florida.

In theory, the Russian should play in the second line with the club’s main star, Matthew Tkachuk. If they develop chemistry, Tarasenko will increase his stats significantly and he can stay in Florida for several more years.

Yakov Trenin

Or: from Nashville

Or: in “Colorado”

How they changed: plus defensive end Graham Sword for defensive end Jeremy Hanzel and a third-round pick in the 2025 draft

A role player with 14 points (10 goals, 4 assists) in 60 games this season, whose contract was about to expire with a salary of $1.7 million, went to Colorado, which is considering once again aiming for the Stanley Cup and needs to add depth and muscle to his roster. The versatile Trenin will get a place in the lower ranks and, if necessary, he can be promoted to the front line. A good trade for Yakov, and if Colorado goes far in the playoffs, the amount of the new contract could be seriously increased.

Denis Gurianov

Or: from Nashville

Or: in Philadelphia

How they changed: for striker Wade Ellison

The 26-year-old forward, with a salary of $0.85 million, performed well in the Nashville farm club, but in the NHL he collected only 2 (1+1) points in 14 games . The contract expires, the Predators don’t need him. Maybe John Tortorella in Philadelphia will find an approach to Guryanov. But apparently we will see him in the KHL next season.

Klim Kostin

Or: from Detroit

Or: in San Jose

How they changed: for defenseman Radim Simek and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft

Kostin’s NHL career is not going well and he is already 24 years old. No, the two-year contract with a $2 million salary from the Red Wings itself seemed good to him. However, Detroit used Klim in the narrow role of a safety who, on occasion, could put up a fight. In the end, this only led to 4 (3+1) points in 33 matches. You cannot sign a new contract with such numbers.

A trade with a weak league club, San Jose, where a restructuring is underway, is an opportunity to get playing time and the role of a hockey player, not a brawler. Regardless, Kostin is clinging to his NHL chances. But he will always have time to return to the KHL, and they will be happy to see him in the same Avangard.

Ilya Lyubushkin

Or: from Anaheim

Or: in Toronto

How they changed: for a third-round pick in 2025

This exchange took place on February 29. Lyubushkin, 29, returned to Toronto, where he has played before and is well known. The Maple Leafs are adding depth to their playoff roster. In four matches in Toronto, Ilya has already scored one (0+1) point.

Vasily Ponomarev

Or: by Caroline

Or: in Pittsburgh

How they changed: plus forwards Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Cruz Lucius, conditional first and fifth round picks in the 2024 draft – for defenseman Ty Smith and forward Jake Guentzel

Ponomarev was part of a blockbuster trade featuring two-time Stanley Cup winner Jake Guentzel. Yes, Carolina has drastically strengthened its offense for the playoffs, not only at the expense of Kuznetsov.

Ponomarev only played two matches for Carolina this season, but scored 2 (1+1) points. His talent is obvious, and the guy looks great in the AHL farm club, playing for the Chicago Wolves: 29 (8+21) points in 39 games. After changing the team, Vasily will again head to the top – perhaps it will be easier to do this in Pittsburgh, where a radical restructuring of the roster is ahead.

Nikita Okhotyuk

Or: from San Jose

Or: in Calgary

How they changed: conditional fifth-round pick in 2024

Okhotyuk attempted to play in New Jersey and San Jose, but without much success. Yes, 8 (1+7) points for the Sharks in 43 games might not be bad. But the usefulness of -22 promises to be deadly for a defender.

It seems that agent Dan Milstein has some kind of approach to the Calgary management – he recently sent his fourth client there, including three defenders. They are Andrey Kuzmenko, Nikita Zadorov (then left for Vancouver), Okhotyuk and now Daniil Miromanov.

Daniel Miromanov

Or: from “Vegas”

Or: in Calgary

How they changed: plus conditional first and third round picks in the 2025 draft for guard Noah Hanifin

An interesting player whose career was ruined by a serious injury, because of which Miromanov did not play for almost a year. It is important that Daniil has an NHL contract until 2026. It is extremely difficult to play in champion Vegas. It might be easier to do this in Calgary.

Dmitry Ovchinnikov

Or: from Toronto

Or: to Minnesota

How they changed: plus a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft for forward Connor Devare

A 21-year-old forward from Siberia, who made his way to the NHL through the Toronto Marlies (7+3=10 in 20 games), and will now do so through the Minnesota farm club, which has loved the Russians since his arrival of Kirill Kaprizov. Certainly, Ovchinnikov’s contract is coming to an end. But I think he hasn’t hit all the bigs in America and it’s too early to return to the KHL.

Artem Grushnikov

Or: from Dallas

Or: in Calgary

How they changed: plus a 2024 second-round pick, a conditional 2026 third-round pick for defenseman Chris Tanev

Another Russian defenseman was signed by Calgary – I wouldn’t be surprised if his agent was also Milstein. Trading at the NHL farm club level, the main figure in the trade is Tanev. Grushnikov has 5 (1+4) points in 44 games for the Texas Stars and has zero points in four games so far for the Calgary Wranglers.

Zakhar Bardakov

Or: from New Jersey

Or: in “Colorado”

How they changed: plus a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft for forward Curtis McDermid

Bardakov successfully plays for SKA, scoring 2 (1+1) points in the last match with Torpedo. His KHL contract is coming to an end. But this is rather a maneuver for Zakhar himself: either you can get a new big contract from SKA, especially if the Gagarin Cup is won, or go to the NHL to a new club to play in the lower ranks and climb the ladder. through the agricultural club. I don’t know what 23-year-old Bardakov will choose, but I see he is doing well at SKA.