Metropolitan Division: Hurricanes Center to Terminate Contract, Sign in KHL

According to a report out of Russia, New Jersey Devils division rival, the Carolina Hurricanes, are losing center Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Per championat.com, Kuznetsov is terminating his contract with the Hurricanes and returning to the KHL where he will sign a four-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg.

The Hurricanes took a chance on Kuznetsov who was underperforming with the Washington Capitals last season after he spent 10-plus of his 11-year NHL career in the nations capital. In exchange, the Capitals received a 2025 third round pick.

The Capitals retained 50% of Kuznetsov’s $7.8 million contract. That means Carolina is gaining an additional $3.9 million in cap space, bringing their grand total $15,581,667.

The Hurricanes suffered some significant loses this summer when Jake Guentzel walked in free agency, followed by Teuvo Teravainen, Brett Pesce, and Brady Skjei. Perhaps their newfound cap space will allow them to make a significant add before the end of the summer.

The Hurricanes do have some further in-house business to attend to. Martin Necas — who reportedly was seeking a trade, is a restricted free agent who could is now more likely to be extended after the mass exodus this summer. Seth Jarvis is another restricted free agent who is due a significant raise following a strong season. Jack Drury needs a new deal as well.

Kuznetsov’s NHL career comes to an end after 11 seasons in which he scored 173 goals and 575 points in 743 career games. The Russian center won the Stanley Cup with Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals in 2018. He scored 12 goals and 32 points in 24 games en route to a championship.

The 32-year-old forward developed in the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk system and eventually played five seasons with the KHL club between 2009-10 and 2013-14 before heading to North America to play in Washington.

Kuznetsov will play the 2024-25 KHL season on the same team as Devils prospect Arseni Gritsyuk.

The Hurricanes announced on Wednesday that the forward has been placed on unconditional waivers today for purposes of a mutual contract termination. SKA have made an official announcement regarding the report.

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