Evgeny Kuznetsov discloses how his children's portrayal of their father pushed him to terminate NHL contract

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Aug 07, 2024 06:23 GMT

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Evgeny Kuznetsov is opening up about how his NHL struggles affected his family. As he starts a new chapter with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, the former Washington Capitals center admits he didn’t want his children to watch him play.

In a MatchTV interview, Kuznetsov said his poor performance during his last NHL season with the Capitals and Hurricanes made him keep his family away from the games. The 32-year-old said:

"I haven't been able to make [my family] happy in the last couple of years. There were times when I didn't even want them to come to the games," Kuznetsov said. "I wasn't comfortable having my kids see my fail, I was worried about that."

Kuznetsov further revealed his issues were due to rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joint pain and severe insomnia. He used medication and injections to manage these problems, which affected his game.

He decided to end his NHL contract early to return to Russia. Now with SKA St. Petersburg, Kuznetsov hopes to improve his performance and show his family what he can do.

"I wanted my great-grandmother, parents, wife and kids to really see me play hockey," Kuznetsov added. "Now I'm putting it all on the line. I want my kids to see how dad can really play."

For Evgeny Kuznetsov, this move is a chance to rediscover his passion for hockey and share it with his family.

Evgeny Kuznetsov on returning to KHL

Evgeny Kuznetsov goes to SKA Saint Petersburg on a four-year deal. He was seen in full team gear at their Sochi training camp. After 10 years in the NHL with the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, Kuznetsov is returning to the KHL. He previously played for Traktor Chelyabinsk.

Kuznetsov will earn around $1 million per season with SKA. He could make up to $11.7 million more annually with performance bonuses.

In his first interview since signing, Kuznetsov said he is happy with his decision to return to Russian hockey. He is eager to dive into the KHL and start this new chapter. SKA’s first game of the season is against Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Sept. 5.

“The decision was well-thought-out, and we made it as a family,” Kuznetsov said (via RMNB). “Perhaps my time has come. Everyone has their own time, and it’s time to leave, or in this case to leave the NHL. We are all very happy to be in St. Petersburg."

“I had a very long year,” he added. “I understood and realized a lot for myself. I really want to play Russian hockey, to immerse myself in the realities of the KHL. I will do it with pleasure.”

Last season with the Hurricanes, Kuznetsov scored 24 points in 67 regular-season games and added seven points in 20 playoff games. The Hurricanes decided to let him go, allowing him to return to Russia.