© Getty Images

Evgeny Kuznetsov was placed on unconditional waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday for the purpose of terminating his contract.

The forward, who is 32 years old, had signed an eight-year, $62.4 million contract with the Washington Capitals on July 2, 2017. He had one season remaining on this contract. The contract had an average annual value of $3.9 million. After being traded to Carolina on March 8 in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Washington retained 50 percent of his salary.

“Ultimately, both parties reached a consensus that this was the most suitable course of action for the player and the team,” stated Eric Tulsky, the general manager of the Hurricanes, on their official website. He further expressed gratitude towards Evgeny for his contributions to the team and extended well wishes to him and his family.

Kuznetsov, who was chosen by the Capitals as the No. 26 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, had an impressive career with 575 points (173 goals, 402 assists) in 743 NHL games. Throughout his career, he had four seasons where he scored at least 20 goals. Kuznetsov also showcased his skills in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, accumulating 73 points (33 goals, 40 assists) in 77 games. In the 2018 playoffs, he played a crucial role in helping the Washington Capitals secure the Stanley Cup, leading the postseason with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists). Although he finished second to his linemate Alex Ovechkin in the Conn Smythe Trophy voting for playoff MVP, his contributions were undeniably significant.

In Game 6 of the 2018 second round, he achieved one of the most significant milestones in Capitals history by scoring in overtime. This remarkable goal eliminated the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion, Pittsburgh Penguins, and propelled Washington to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in two decades, since 1998. Building upon this triumph, Kuznetsov displayed exceptional performance, accumulating 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Furthermore, he exhibited his remarkable skills with a four-assist performance in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.

After achieving a career-high of 83 points (27 goals, 56 assists) in 79 regular-season games during the 2017-18 NHL season, Kuznetsov’s performance declined. He managed to accumulate 78 points (24 goals, 54 assists) in 79 games during the 2021-22 season but experienced a further drop to 55 points (12 goals, 43 assists) in 81 games the following season. This unfortunate decline coincided with the Capitals missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Prior to being traded, Kuznetsov had accumulated 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 43 games. Additionally, he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program twice, with the most recent entry occurring on February 5. However, he was eventually cleared to return on March 2 and was subsequently loaned to Hershey of the American Hockey League.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at PNC Arena, Kuznetsov made an impact by scoring the first goal and providing an assist for the winning goal in Carolina’s 3-1 victory against the New York Islanders. Throughout the postseason, he showcased his skills by accumulating a total of six points, including four goals and two assists, in 10 games.

Kuznetsov achieved several notable accomplishments in international hockey before his NHL debut. He secured a silver medal for Russia at the 2009 Under-18 World Championship, followed by a gold medal in 2011 and a silver medal in 2012 at the IIHF World Junior Championship. In the 2011 tournament, he contributed significantly with 11 points, including four goals and seven assists in seven games. Notably, his three assists in the gold medal game propelled Russia to score five third-period goals, resulting in a triumphant 5-3 victory against Canada. Additionally, Kuznetsov clinched a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World Championship.