Despite a potential return to the NHL being possible for Evgeny Kuznetzov, a return to the Washington Capitals, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2018, isn't likely.
The door is apparently open for former Washington Capitals Stanley Cup-winning forward Evgeny Kuznetzov to return to the NHL, but if it happens, it likely won't be back with the franchise that he played with for so many years.
Kuznetzov, who returned to his native Russia to play for SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL, recently had his contract mutually terminated by the club and is now a free agent.
His agent indicated that while they are in talks with other KHL clubs, they'd accept a deal to return to North America if the right offer came along.
But per Capitals writer Sammi Silber of The Hockey News, the Capitals aren't likely to show interest in a reunion with their former star if he does return to the NHL.
Looking at what's next, Kuznetsov could very well be back in the NHL, though a reunion with the Capitals, who will explore options at third-line center this offseason, isn't likely.While a year is plenty of time for change, it doesn't seem likely that he would reunite with the Capitals, and the team may be hesitant to take another chance on him after struggles on and off the ice.
Not only that, Washington's goal is to get younger, and therefore, the team is more likely to fill that role with internal prospects or other young players on the market.
Kuznetzov played several years for the Capitals, helping them to the franchise's 1st and only Stanley Cup to date in 2018; he was later traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he briefly played before returning to Russia to play in the KHL.
Veteran Stanley Cup Champion Poised for Potential NHL Comeback
Former Washington Capitals Stanley Cup champion Evgeny Kuznetsov could potentially return to the NHL after spending a year overseas, per his agent.
Could former Washington Capitals Stanley Cup champion Evgeny Kuznetsov be eying a return to the NHL?
Kuznetsov, who most recently played in the NHL for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2024, returned to his native Russia and suited up for SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL before both sides agreed to mutually terminate his contract this past April.
He's now a free agent, and he could make the leap back into the NHL if the right offer were to come along per his agent Shumi Babaev, who said he is also negotiating with the best clubs in the KHL.
The process of finding a new club for Kuznetsov is going well, we are working on it. I can't say yet that we are in advanced negotiations with anyone. We are talking with the strongest teams in the KHL. Evgeny is a top player, an elite one. I am sure that he is the best hockey player in the KHL now.
We are not currently negotiating with North American clubs. If the NHL offer is most preferable, then Evgeny will return there.
Kuznetsov experienced concussion issues, which eventually led to a viral infection, per a report released earlier in the year by Match TV.
It turned out that Kuznetsov, who barely recovered from a concussion, received another concussion, the second one in a season. That's such a fatal injury... Rivals played hard with him. The next day, Evgeny felt worse, and he also had an acute respiratory viral infection. He was not put on the match with Spartak.
He played in 723 NHL games with the Capitals and Hurricanes, scoring 568 points (171G, 397A). He also helped the Capitals to the 2018 Stanley Cup and was the leading scorer with 32 points (12G, 20A) in the postseason, which included the overtime GWG against the Penguins to send Washington to the ECF.
