Kuznetsov has contract terminated by Hurricanes

Evgeny Kuznetsov had his contract terminated by the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, one day after he was placed on unconditional waivers.

The 32-year-old forward had one season left on an eight-year, $62.4 million contract ($7.8 million average annual value) he signed with the Washington Capitals on July 2, 2017. Washington retained 50 percent of his salary after he was traded to Carolina on March 8 for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

"Ultimately, both sides agreed this was the best course of action for both the player and the team," general manager Eric Tulsky told the Hurricanes website Wednesday. "We thank Evgeny for his time with the team and wish him and his family the best."

Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals with the No. 26 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, had 575 points (173 goals, 402 assists) in 743 NHL games. He also had 73 points (33 goals, 40 assists) in 77 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including leading the postseason with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) to help Washington win the Stanley Cup in 2018, when he finished second to linemate Alex Ovechkin in voting for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

He scored one of the biggest goals in Capitals history, in overtime of Game 6 of the 2018 second round to eliminate the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and help Washington advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1998. Kuznetsov followed that with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and a four-assist performance in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Following an NHL career-high 83 points (27 goals, 56 assists) in 79 regular-season games in 2017-18, Kuznetsov's production wavered. He had 78 points (24 goals, 54 assists) in 79 games in 2021-22 before falling to 55 points (12 goals, 43 assists) in 81 games the following season, when the Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. He had 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 43 games before being traded last season and entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program twice, most recently on Feb. 5. When he was cleared to return on March 2 he was loaned to Hershey of the American Hockey League.

Kuznetsov had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 20 regular-season games with Carolina and scored the opening goal and assisted on the winner in Carolina's 3-1 victory against the New York Islanders in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at PNC Arena. He had six points (four goals, two assists) in 10 postseason games.

Before joining the NHL, Kuznetsov helped Russia take home the silver medal at the 2009 IIHF U18 World Championship, and a gold (2011) and silver (2012) at the IIHF World Junior Championship. He also helped Russia win gold at the 2014 IIHF World Championship.