The Utah Mammoth have made a ton of improvements to their roster this summer. They added J.J. Peterka via trade, along with Brandon Tanev, Nate Schmidt, Vitek Vanecek, and Scott Perunovich in free agency. However, there’s another name they could target: former NHLer Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov, 33, spent 11 years in the NHL, playing the bulk of his career with the Washington Capitals, who originally drafted him. In the 2023-24 season, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he finished out the year before heading to Russia. In 743 career NHL games, he scored 172 goals and added 403 assists for 575 points.
Kuznetsov spent the 2024-25 season in the KHL and recorded 37 points in 39 games. Now, he’s looking to return to the NHL and is currently an unrestricted free agent.
The Mammoth could be a potential suitor for Kuznetsov, who would add another middle-six forward to their lineup. He can play down the middle or shift to the wing if needed and still has the potential to produce 35-plus points. He’d likely be available on a one-year deal for under $2 million.
It feels like a no-brainer for a Mammoth team pushing hard for a playoff spot. And once they’re in, who knows what could happen? If they get hot and play their game at the right time, they could find themselves in the Stanley Cup Final.
Adding a former Stanley Cup winner like Kuznetsov could be a quietly savvy move for the organization, one that might pay off in a big way.
