The Carolina Hurricanes made a major announcement on Wednesday, as they put Evgeny Kuznetsov on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. This decision marks the end of the talented center’s NHL career, which has been characterized by both skill and inconsistency.
Kuznetsov still had $6 million remaining on his $8 million salary for the final season of his seven-year, $64.2 million deal signed back in 2017. Despite walking away from this money, he does get to keep the $2 million bonus that was paid earlier this month. General manager Eric Tulsky expressed that both the team and the player agreed that terminating the contract was the best course of action.
Earlier reports had suggested that Kuznetsov was planning to mutually terminate his contract in order to return to Russia and play for SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL. His agent, Craig Oster, did not provide any immediate comment on this decision or on Kuznetsov’s future plans.
In addition to Kuznetsov’s departure, the Hurricanes also announced the signing of forward Jack Drury to a two-year, $3.45 million contract. With roughly $13 million in salary cap space still available, the team must now focus on reaching a contract agreement with forward Seth Jarvis.
The Hurricanes have experienced significant changes this offseason, including the departures of players like Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, and Stefan Noesen. Kuznetsov was acquired from the Washington Capitals before the trade deadline in March, with the Capitals agreeing to retain half of his $7.8 million cap hit. His departure now removes the $3.9 million cap obligation for both teams.
Despite his past success as the leading scorer and Conn Smythe runner-up during the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup victory, Kuznetsov’s time in Carolina was marked by ups and downs. He had 13 points in 30 games in a limited role with the Hurricanes, and even faced a suspension in September 2019 due to “inappropriate conduct.”
As the Hurricanes navigate these changes and transitions, they are hopeful for the growth and development of their young forwards like Drury and Jarvis. The team is eager to see how these players will continue to contribute and evolve as they move forward into the next season.