At only 31 years old, is it already the end for Evgeny Kuznetsov in the NHL?

[sleepn0t]

What you guys think? Cleared waivers, now in the AHL, and no other teams seem to want of him... I thought this player had some potential. But is it rather already the end for him?! Doesn't look good anyway.

[stoopid]

End? It's unlikely unless there's info so tight lipped NO ONE in hockey is leaking it about why he's been MIA for a bit now. His production is down and there's definitely something going on. 7.8 mil cap hit is probably why no one is taking a chance(?).

[RGM81]

Definitely having a rough year, and has been declining offensively since the 21-22 season. As noted above, it's tough for teams to take on a $7.8M cap hit on a guy who is struggling mightily to put up numbers. There may be a trade opportunity out there, but there would need to be salary retention and a pick coming with him to the team that takes him.

[piper1]

He was in the leagues assistance program and had previously tested positive for cocaine. His future in the league depends on him staying clean and a strong performance in the AHL.

[jcesar77]

His point totals have declined since the Caps Cup year and this year were awful for his salary, so no one wants that liability. That being said he still has outstanding skating/puck handling skills that are very desirable for the OT 3-on-3 format and has developed an interesting shootout strategy that more often than not fools goalies -- those skills won't be as useful in the playoffs, so his appeal is limited. Nice guy, I hope he figures it out OR retires gracefully.

[RGM81]

Apparently not - he's off to Carolina!

[jcesar77]

Apparently not - he's off to Carolina!

For a 3rd round draft choice in 2025 and the Caps pay half of his $7.8M salary!! Not much for an "elite" guy drafted in the 1st round.

[RGM81]

@jcesar77 If you think that's a weak haul...On Feb. 27, 1996, the St. Louis Blues acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Los Angeles Kings. In the trade, the Blues sent a fifth-round pick in 1996, a first-round pick in 1997, Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif and Roman Vopat to the Kings.

Carolina literally could have had him for free (minus the salary retention) on waivers earlier this week. Max Pacioretty was traded to Carolina for "future considerations" -- when a team is looking to dump a player and/or salary, you take what you can.

[jcesar77]

@jcesar77 If you think that's a weak haul...On Feb. 27, 1996, the St. Louis Blues acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Los Angeles Kings. In the trade, the Blues sent a fifth-round pick in 1996, a first-round pick in 1997, Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif and Roman Vopat to the Kings.

Carolina literally could have had him for free (minus the salary retention) on waivers earlier this week. Max Pacioretty was traded to Carolina for "future considerations" -- when a team is looking to dump a player and/or salary, you take what you can.

I was really commenting on how far Kuze has fallen, rather than the fairness of the deall. Caps fan, I think, are pretty pleased for anything in return at this point for a guy who would have spent the rest of this year in the AHL; so from that viewpoint the trade "works." He easily cleared waivers, because his contract includes $7.8M for next year also and nobody would touch that, so someone had to give something to the Caps to get them to eat 1/2 the cost. Hope he helps the Canes go farther than Gretz did with the Blues in '96.