Updated 2024-03-03 01.02 | Published 2024-03-02 22.44
share-arrowDela
unsaveSpara
Back from the NHL’s support program and ready to play.
Then Yevgeny Kuznetsov, 31, was met with the news that he was being dumped by the Washington Capitals after eleven years with the team.
– He needs a fresh start, says general manager Brian MacLellan.
Russian star Yevgeny Kuznetsov joined the Washington Capitals in the 2013/14 season and has been with the club ever since.
In 2017/18, he helped win the Stanley Cup as one of the team’s biggest stars.
But lately all the curves have been pointing down and this week he was enrolled in the players’ union support programme, which exists to help players and their families deal with health problems, including substance abuse.
expand-left
full screen Yevgeny Kuznetsov. Photo: David Zalubowski/AP
Ready to play – dumped
We do not know exactly what problems Kuznetsov had, but earlier on Saturday it was announced that the 31-year-old Russian stepped out of the support program and became available for games.
A few hours later, word came that the Washington Capitals were dumping him.
– “Kuzy” needs a fresh start. He has been eager for a change of scenery and hopefully this can speed up that process, says Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan.
Big contract
Kuznetsov has been placed on what are known as “waivers”, which means that it is free for other clubs to take over the rights to him.
But the question is, does anyone nibble?
He is still on a massive contract and earns the equivalent of SEK 80 million next season as well.
expand-left
full screen Yevgenij Kuznetsov and Nicklas Bäckström. Photo: Nick Wass/AP
Other teams now have 24 hours to snap up Kuznetsov. If no one snaps, he will be sent down to the Capitals’ farm team Hershey Bears in the AHL, Brian MacLellan announces.
2024-03-03 23:02:24
#Dumped #eleven #years #support #program
