Capitals legend attempting NHL comeback after a season away

Billy Heyen

Capitals legend attempting NHL comeback after a season away image

Maybe Evgeny Kuznetsov actually prefers the NHL.

He's certainly made the most of his time in Russia in the KHL, with 37 points in 39 games last season.

Now, though, the former Washington Capitals star might be coming back to the NHL.

Kuzentsov's agent said that "his client will play in North America next season and that he has been in contact with several teams already," according to Pro Hockey Rumors.

Kuznetsov last played in the NHL in 2023-24.

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He has 743 career appearances in the NHL. In those, Kuznetsov has 173 goals and 402 assists.

Kuznetsov just turned 33 years old, so the Capitals could try to keep him around for a number of years.

Other teams could try to disrupt proceedings by getting involved in negotiations themselves.

Kuznetsov knows that the Capitals are in win-now mode for as long as Alex Ovechkin remains in D.C.

If you're in Washington, you have to try to see if there’s a way to make it all work out with Kuznetsov, because he’s still good enough to positively impact winning.
 

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle