The Hurricanes have acquired center Evgeny Kuznetsov from the Capitals, per a team announcement. A 2025 third-round pick is heading back to Washington, which is retaining 50% of Kuznetsov’s $7.8MM cap hit.
Kuznetsov and the Capitals clearly wanted a fresh start after the player exited the first stage of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and was subsequently placed on waivers last weekend. The 31-year-old has one season remaining on the eight-year, $62.4MM deal he signed with the Caps in the summer of 2017 and has a 10-team no-trade list. The Hurricanes will owe him half of his pro-rated $6MM salary this season, a $3MM salary next year, and a $1MM signing bonus this summer thanks to Washington’s retention, and he’ll cost $3.9MM against their salary cap this year and next.
A point-per-game threat at his peak during the Capitals’ run to the championship in 2018, it’s been a rather sharp decline in production this season. He’s tallied only six goals and 17 points in 43 games this season, tallying the worst points-per-game rate of his 11-year career. He’s never been a strong defensive player, either, and that hasn’t changed with a 43.6 CF% at even strength and a 39.3 xGF%.
Nonetheless, the Hurricanes could bank on surrounding him with much better wing talent and look to utilize him in a top-six role. The team has a gaping vacancy at center on their second line behind Sebastian Aho. Both Jack Drury and Jesperi Kotkaniemi have tried and failed to hold down the spot with acceptable production from a second-line pivot on a contending team, and while Kuznetsov’s numbers haven’t been any better, he at least has the history of holding down top-six minutes on a contending team. A hypothetical trio with Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov (or their other big deadline splash, Jake Guentzel) is far from a shutdown line, but playing with two highly skilled wingers should help restore Kuznetsov’s production closer to his former levels.
Carolina indeed views Kuznetsov as a potential top-six piece and is expected to recall him from the minors after the trade call is completed, per Emily Kaplan of ESPN.
The Capitals, meanwhile, free up half of Kuznetsov’s remaining money to spend elsewhere over the next 15 months. His departure opens up more guaranteed ice time for youngsters Hendrix Lapierre and Connor McMichael down the middle down the stretch and into next season, too. Notably, the Capitals are now utilizing all three of their salary retention slots this season and won’t be able to execute another retained salary transaction before today’s deadline.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet first reported the Hurricanes were trading for Kuznetsov.
Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic first reported the return and salary retention details.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Raleigh is the perfect place to dry out. Svech and Kuznetsov with Necas. Wow.
So essentially the Canes did not give up any real assets and got a 2C, LW-1 and a world class goalie back from medical. Now they can resign Skjei
Have you been to Raleigh? Not the place to dry out. I think the pastime in Raleigh is drinking beer.
Kuzy isn’t a 2C anymore
Brain dead move and Irresponsible! You get rid of 2 problems in Bunting and DeAngelo and bring in another headache?
Explain how either was a problem with the Hurricanes? That’s right, they weren’t.
They were acquired a few short months ago and already gone! Bunting is a notorious meathead, And DeAngelo couldn’t get into the lineup, A huge indictment on the GM. Also. Kuznetsov is the wrong guy at the wrong time to bring in. Huge distraction!!!!! Now. Go get your shine box!
You are one miserable person, aren’t you?
You obviously don’t know anything about the Hurricanes. DeAngelo was signed at $1 million for depth. He was never going to be in the top 6 on this roster. He was good when he was inserted into the lineup when Chatty was injured. Bunting was playing on PP1 and was fitting in very nicely here, but to get something, you have to give something. Bring’Amour doesn’t allow distractions, so you can take that excuse elsewhere.
You are totally ignorant about the Hurricanes and Tony D. He had actually been playing well lately and had been getting into the lineup more.
Don’t hate because I’m right. Lol.
Not well enough, Gone in less than a year. That’s the bottom line! And you are welcome!
I’m not hating. But you have not followed the Canes closely by your comments.
As far as Kuznetsov goes, I’m not sure if it’s a good move or not. I guess we will have to wait and see.
You are welcome!
Last September on the opening day of training camp, I picked Carolina and Dallas in this season’s final.
I would love to see that for a Finals series. If the Canes don’t make it, I was planning on pulling for Dallas.
Listen, I want them to make the Cup Final to get their first, but they are bringing in too many new pieces from new places to play key roles for a playoff team. Could be a meek first round exit in waiting.
Adding in too many pieces – ask the rangers how that worked out last year
That was my own thought when I pulled this up to comment: Bruins 2023 2.0.
Penguins 2013.
I think It’s the type of players as opposed to the number, You are correct though about the Rangers, It seemed that there were to many picassos and not enough house painter’s when the playoffs started.
So youre saying Guentzel is not an upgrade? Kuznetsov can play the fourth line, no one cares. Now Svech has a fellow countryman potentially on his line.
So is Kuznetzov ending up on the 2nd line after all or is Svech going to the 4th?
Jake is great, but teams that add too many pieces into key roles and disrupt the chemistry of an already good team rarely win.
The only team I recall doing it and winning were the Rangers in 1994. It rarely works.
Recchi and Weight in 2006 worked out well.
Fair. But, that’s twice.
Here’s to hoping for three! lol
Flames did it in 2004 and nearly won the cup (it was in!). This really comes down to the coach and how he sets the lines. Kuz could sit out every other night and it wouldn’t change much. I think it’s a pretty good gamble.
The Hurricanes have pretty much stood pat at the deadline, and they have zero cups because of it (recently). This time they are trying a different approach.
Weight came in a bit earlier than the deadline, but it’s a good example. Similar to the Pens in 2009 bringing in Kunitz early and then Guerin at the deadline. It’s more about bringing in the right guy(s) for the right role(s) as opposed to acquiring as many guns as you can for the arsenal without a plan
As for the non-goal, I think that most people would love to retroactively call it a good goal and award the for Flames the cup just for the sole purpose of taking it away from Torts
In all fairness, Weight was added in November that season and had plenty of time to acclimate. Rod’s system of man to man is difficult for some guys to adjust to. I’m hoping both can come in an adjust fairly quickly.
Weight was traded Jan 30th.
I think you are right. Thank you for the sentiments.
It took years to get over that. Then to see the Oilers go to the Cup next, after a lockout year. Very hard years indeed in Calgary lmao.
Coincidently by the Hurricanes. These playoffs are going to be a battle. Maybe Hurricanes and Oilers for a re-do.
But at least the oilers lost! And then they watched Pronger win the cup the following season.
I’d be cool seeing that final repeat itself, would make for some fast hockey
Will he actually play!!!
Cocaine Bear
I’m too tired to understand how Carolina can afford all of these contracts.
Swap for Guentzel/Bunting last night was cap-neutral since Bunting was making $4.5MM… which is what Guentzel costs with 25% retention. As such, they still had almost $6MM in current cap space
Math.
Bunting is making as much as Guentzel? What a world.
He’s making $6MM but will only cost the Canes $4.5MM. Penguins retained 25% of his remaining contract.
Yes Math and a pretty savvy GM…
Alex Semin 2.0…
He in fact was in the top six to begin the season and then predictably fell out of favor. Bring facts to the table!
Ok, I stand corrected. But my point was that he had longer to adjust to his new team.
Pretty sure the Canes saw enough of Kuznetsov through the years to decide he was worth a flier. He needs to be in a place where 2C is his ceiling and can be 3C, and they can hope that some of the 1C level he showed a few years ago shows up. They will look like geniuses if it does.
No player in the NHL needed a change of scenery more than him. As a Caps fan it has been pretty frustrating watching him skate at 60 or 70% effort the last couple of seasons.
Just beware, as much as he floated on offense he is even less interested in playing defense. But if you need someone to rag the puck with 1 goal lead he’s great at that.