Evgeny Kuznetsov Closing In On NHL Comeback Destination

Evgeny Kuznetsov last suited up in NHL in 2024 with Carolina Hurricanes

After his $64 million NHL contract was terminated (at his request) with one year to run back in 2024, Russian forward Evgeny Kuznetsov decided to return home to the KHL and played last season with St. Petersburg SKA in an attempt to revive his faltering career.

He succeeded to some extent, posting 37 points in 39 games with a plus/minus rating of +13. That was a huge improvement from his last NHL season in 2023-24, when he managed to scrape together just eight goals and 24 points split between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes.

However, the four-year deal he had signed with SKA was mutually terminated after just one season.

Now, according to Capitals beat writer Sammi Silber in The Hockey News, Kuznetsov is getting closer to a decision on his next move, which sounds like it'll be back here in North America.

Silber notes that Kuznetsov has "teased about an NHL comeback" after he was seen playing in a Washington, D.C. beer league at the Caps' practice facility.

Evgeny Kuznetsov: beer-league legend pic.twitter.com/MbCkgYYVta
— RMNB (@rmnb) August 3, 2025

The player's agent, Shumi Babayev, says it's down to two teams as possible NHL comeback locations.

"No news yet... there's an expectation of signing," Babayev said, per a DeepL translation. "We've decided on the clubs. Two teams are now resolving issues with their budget."

The agent also indicated that if Kuznetsov does sign, it will not be for the league minimum.

In 11 NHL seasons, Kuznetsov, now 33, played 743 games, all but 20 of them with the Capitals. He had four 20-goal seasons, and overall recorded 173 goals and 575 points with a +38 rating. But his production had tailed off significantly in his last couple of seasons.