After nearly a year away from the NHL, Evgeny Kuznetsov prepares for a return. The former Washington Capitals forward, best known for helping lead the team to a Stanley Cup title in 2018, is back on the radar of several NHL teams.
Following a short but eventful stint in the KHL with SKA Saint Petersburg, Kuznetsov and his agent are focused solely on North America again, with about ten NHL teams reportedly showing interest. The comeback may be quieter than his previous headline-grabbing days, but there’s still plenty of reason to believe the 32-year-old playmaker has more to offer.
Evgeny Kuznetsov Rebuilds Path to NHL After Brief KHL Stint
Kuznetsov’s NHL journey hit pause in the summer of 2024 when he left the league and signed a four-year deal with SKA Saint Petersburg. That agreement was intended to give him a fresh start, but after just one season, and a mutual decision to part ways in April 2025, Kuznetsov is looking to reset once again.
Despite producing a strong 37 points in 39 games with SKA, Kuznetsov struggled with injuries and didn’t see eye-to-eye with the coaching staff. “The coach didn’t use him the way Evgeny would’ve liked,” said Kuznetsov’s agent, Shumi Babaev. “I told him: a year has passed, it’s a clean slate, this is the perfect moment to try and return to his previous level.”
Evgeny Kuznetsov is making an NHL comeback and @DariaTuboltseva reports that he has 10 NHL teams that have shown interest in him so far.
With centers few and far between on the free agent market, Kuznetsov isn’t willing to accept a try-out. https://t.co/xhvMWvyO1F
— Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) June 30, 2025
The decision to return to the NHL wasn’t due to a lack of offers in Russia. According to Babaev, KHL teams were still very interested. “Honestly, he’d still be one of the best players in the KHL,” he said. “But right now, the focus is on returning to the NHL.”
Kuznetsov’s experience speaks for itself. Over 11 seasons with the Capitals, he registered 568 points in 723 games and was a significant piece of their 2018 Stanley Cup win. In the 2023–24 season, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he added 7 points in 20 regular-season games and contributed six more in the playoffs. With his KHL contract behind him, Kuznetsov is negotiating only with NHL clubs. Around ten teams are said to be in the mix, teams that have both roster space and cap room. “In my view, there are about ten teams where Kuznetsov could be a real asset,” Babaev said. “I think we could have clarity within a couple of weeks.” Kuznetsov is not interested in signing a professional tryout (PTO). Babaev was clear: “There’s no need to ‘test’ Kuznetsov. Everyone knows who he is and what he can do.”
That said, expectations have been adjusted. Babaev acknowledged that, once an $8 million-per-year player, Kuznetsov won’t command that kind of salary now. But that could play in his favor. “He’s not going to cost what he did before. His new deal will be significantly more affordable. For many cap-strapped teams, that could be a steal, a quality center at a reasonable price.”
For now, Kuznetsov is vacationing in the United States with his family. He plans to return to Russia on July 15 to begin offseason training at Babaev’s camp. He won’t be alone; New Jersey Devils newcomer Arseniy Gritsyuk and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov will be training alongside him. Last season, Kuznetsov shared the ice in SKA with top prospect Ivan Demidov, who has since signed with the Montreal Canadiens. Kuznetsov could be one of this summer’s most intriguing comeback stories with experience, skill, and motivation to prove himself again in the league he once thrived in. All that’s left is for the right NHL team to make the call.
