The Carolina Hurricanes have placed forward Evgeny Kuznetsov on unconditional waivers, effectively terminating the remaining year of his contract. The decision comes after the Russian player's acquisition from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline.
The Carolina Hurricanes have parted ways with Evgeny Kuznetsov, placing the 32-year-old forward on unconditional waivers Wednesday. The move terminates the final year of Kuznetsov's seven-year, $64.2 million contract, which he signed with the Washington Capitals in 2017.
Carolina Hurricanes Waive Evgeny Kuznetsov, Terminating His Contract
Kuznetsov, who was acquired by the Hurricanes at this past season's trade deadline, has one year remaining on his contract, with the Capitals still on the hook for $6 million of the $8 million he was owed this season.
"Ultimately, both sides agreed this was the best course of action for both the player and the team," Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said. "We thank Evgeny for his time with the team and wish him and his family the best."
Carolina Hurricanes Waive Evgeny Kuznetsov, Terminating His Contract
Kuznetsov's time with the Hurricanes was relatively brief. He scored two goals and had five assists in 20 regular season games after being acquired from the Capitals. In the playoffs, he added four goals and two assists in 10 games before the Hurricanes were eliminated by the New York Rangers.
Prior to his stint with the Hurricanes, Kuznetsov had spent his entire 11-year career with the Capitals. He made his NHL debut with Washington in 2013-14 at age 21 and quickly became a mainstay on the team's top line.
Carolina Hurricanes Waive Evgeny Kuznetsov, Terminating His Contract
Kuznetsov's most notable accomplishment came in 2018 when he led the Capitals in scoring with 12 goals and 32 points during their Stanley Cup title run. He played a key role in the team's first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
In total, Kuznetsov played in 743 NHL games during his career, scoring 173 goals and tallying 402 assists. He also made the NHL All-Star team once.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
