Athletistic / Hockey. On July 15, Russian media reported that Yevgeny Kuznetsov wanted to return to Russia at all costs. And after all, the information about this was published by an authoritative source, so even then they began to take this issue seriously. And on July 17, the Carolina Hurricanes put Kuznetsov in the draft unconditionally.

This procedure in the NHL is the final step towards parting with a hockey player. First, the general managers of the NHL clubs try to trade assets they do not need with other clubs. If this does not happen, then the hockey player is subject to a waiver draft: within 48 hours, any club can take the player; if this does not happen, the hockey player goes to the farm club. However, this procedure can still protect the player from changing his registration with the club. For example, in the 2023/2024 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs entered Ilya Samsonov in the waiver draft, but it was the Russian who started the playoffs as the Leafs’ main goalie. But the unconditional drafting of refusals is a completely different matter.

In this case, if no one takes the hockey player, the contract with him is terminated within 48 hours. It is worth noting that under this procedure, the team will be obliged to pay the player a large part of his salary, and will also be obliged to include his salary in the salary cap calculation sheet. Therefore, NHL clubs carefully avoid this step. But this is not the case with Kuznetsov.

  • The bird returns home. Evgeny Kuznetsov leaves the NHL to return to Russia

What made Carolina take such a step? Was the Russian really that bad?! It is impossible to say for sure, because in the playoffs, Evgeniy was often one of the main drivers of the team and really contributed to the game of the Hurricanes. The authoritative North American journalist Frank Seravalli helped to find the answer to these questions.

— “Carolina” and “Washington” have now unloaded the salary mass from Kuznetsov’s contract. The hockey player himself refused to pay his last salary in the amount of $ 6 million for the next season in order to quickly return to Russia.“, Seravalli wrote on his social media page.

Photo source: NHL

That’s all. Evgeniy really tried in every way to speed up the process of returning to his homeland. What this is connected with, only he and his entourage know, but Kuznetsov can be respected only for the fact that he made a choice and went towards it, despite the money, shouts from outside, the opinion of experts and fans.

Note that in March 2024, in a trade with Carolina, Washington agreed to keep 50% of Kuznetsov’s salary. Thus, in the 2024/2024 season, Evgeniy could receive $ 3 million from the Hurricanes and the capital. But now it doesn’t matter.

  • Ovechkin Makes History. The United States Once Again Enjoyed Russia’s Success

Almost every hockey fan knows the reasons for the sudden decline in Evgeny Kuznetsov’s NHL career. After winning the Stanley Cup, at the peak of his fame, Kuzy began to develop bad habits. In 2019, they led to a 4-year ban by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), whose jurisdiction does not extend to the NHL. However, the North American league took the Russian seriously and forced him to undergo a special program that helps hockey players cope with various problems and addictions.

All of this coincided with Kuznetsov’s performance deteriorating. Not only is he to blame for that, but so is Washington, which is gloomy. But in this business, there will always be more demands on a player, especially one making $7.8 million per season. Those problems continued to pile up and resurfaced in early 2024, when Kuznetsov was placed in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program. It helps hockey players deal with psychological issues and addictions to alcohol and drugs.

Photo source: Washington Capitals HC

No one, except for a narrow circle of people, knows exactly why Kuznetsov ended up there, but his reputation, unfortunately, does not bode well. In any case, after completing this program, Kuznetsov requested a trade to Washington. To strengthen the team before the playoffs, Carolina took him, and this summer they agreed to part with the Russian.

  • Kuznetsov, amid SKA rumors, led training session in Traktor uniform

Now, with almost 100% probability, Evgeny Kuznetsov will return to the KHL, the rights to which have belonged to SKA since the summer of 2017. However, it is known that the forward himself wants to play in his homeland exclusively for Chelyabinsk Traktor. Where Kuznetsov goes depends on him, his entourage and the bosses of both Russian clubs. I would like the parties to finally make a decision from which Evgeniy can get the maximum benefit. And the benefit will not be financial (in the NHL, he could certainly earn an order of magnitude more). Kuznetsov must revive his passion for hockey. Thanks to a successful combination of circumstances, the story of Kuzi and the NHL will continue after a short break.

Nikita Serbakov, Athletistic



Athletistic