Alex Ovechkin addresses Evgeny Kuznetsov terminating $64.2M contract to reportedly leave NHL

By Srihari Anand

Modified Jul 21, 2024 11:43 GMT

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin's former teammate and ex-Carolina Hurricanes forward Evgeny Kuznetsov cleared unconditional waivers and terminated his NHL contract earlier this week. This came in after reports surfaced that the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning forward favored a move closer to his home, the Russian league, the KHL.

Kuznetsov reportedly demanded a trade out of the Capitals after coming out of the NHL/NHLPA assistance program in February. He was sent to the Hurricanes in a trade where the Caps agreed to retain 50% of his $7.8 million AAV based on the seven-year, $64.2 million contract he had signed with Washington in 2017.

Having had his contract terminated, both the Hurricanes and Capitals will not have to carry his $3.9 million AAV (per team) going into next season.

Alex Ovechkin was one of the participants in the NHL vs. KHL All-Star Game held in Russia on Saturday. Per TheHockeyNews' Sammi Silber, Ovechkin addressed his former teammate's contract termination after the exhibition game.

"We'll see. I can't say what his plans are," Ovechkin said. "Everyone has their own head on their shoulders. He'll do what's best for his family."

In the Hurricanes' statement, newly appointed general manager Eric Tulsky said:

“Ultimately both sides agreed this was the best course of action for both the player and the team. We thank Evgeny for his time with the team and wish him and his family the best.”

Per Ovechkin and Tulsky's comments on Kuznetsov's contract termination, it seems like the decision was made due to personal reasons and, more specifically, to benefit his family.

The 32-year-old forward played with Alex Ovechkin for 11 years, and together they achieved the goal of winning the Stanley Cup in 2018. Kuznetsov played 743 games in the NHL and had 575 points from 173 goals and 402 assists.

He was banned from playing for the Russian national team for four years in 2019 after he tested positive for cocaine. He was also suspended for three games without pay for "inappropriate conduct" by the NHL a month after being handed the ban by the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia.

Alex Ovechkin showed off at NHL vs. KHL All-Star exhibition game in Moscow

Alex Ovechkin led the long list of NHL superstars who represented the league in the charity game between NHL and KHL players on Saturday in Moscow. Other NHL players on the team included Rangers' Artemi Panarin, ex-Lightning Mikhail Sergachev, Penguins' Evgeni Malkin, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Kovalchuk, among others.

Ovechkin did not take too long to show his presence, as he opened the scoring for the NHL All-Stars in under 20 seconds during the first half with an assist from Artemi Panarin.

After scoring the opening goal, Alex Ovechkin took an early breather on the bench and broke out the classic "I-Can't-Hear-You" celebration, riling up the crowd in attendance.

The charity game ended at 8-8, and Alex Ovechkin was named player of the game.