The Capitals traded Kuznetsov to the Hurricanes on Friday.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals made a difficult decision on Friday, electing to part ways with Evgeny Kuznetsov permanently by trading him to the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.
For general manager Brian MacLellan, it was a difficult deal to make, and until the end, the team had attempted to salvage things with Kuznetsov, who is set to make his return to play with Carolina on Saturday after a little over a month in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
"We tried everything we could at the end to get it back on track, and unfortunately, this is where we ended up," MacLellan said, adding that Carolina was the main team making a move for No. 92.
The last handful of seasons have been frustrating for Kuznetsov, who had been unable to recapture the consistency that helped him rank among the NHL's elite and led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018. At the same time, he was running into off-ice issues and had asked MacLellan for a fresh start.
“I think it’s hard. I mean, especially when you win together, you don’t wanna — there’s a connection, emotionally, from the fans, from management, from coaches, and you just don’t want to let that go. And then sometimes it’s just circumstances you know, create a situation where you have to move on," MacLellan said. "There’s a business, there’s a cap, there’s money, there’s aging, there’s all these things that come into it. And I think any organization would have trouble letting go of players that are popular and have been successful, you’ve been successful with."
Still, MacLellan knew it was the best move for both parties, so he opted for a clean break before the deadline and sent him to a contender within the division.
“You want him to have a good opportunity to continue his career to get back on track and we’re not at the same spot as Carolina. We’re trying to get younger and develop some young guys and you know, they’re adding to their group. So it’s just a different — it should be a win-win," MacLellan said.
Kuznetsov called Carolina the "perfect fit," and also had a nice send-off for D.C.
"It was 11 years, and both of my kids born there, and that city is a massive chunk in my heart. And unfortunately, I have to leave that way, on that note, but you know, that’s life. No regrets in my life, and I’m gonna remember for the rest of my life the time over there," Kuznetsov said. "It was amazing, amazing memories, bad, good, all kind of memories and you know, happy to be here and new chapter in my life."
The Capitals also had nothing but good things to say about his tenure in the District.
“Yeah I mean, he means a lot. You know, the goal, I mean everybody’s gonna remember the goal, the championship, play in the playoffs. I mean, he’s a fun guy, he’s entertaining, skill level and skating are off the charts," MacLellan said. "He’s provided entertainment for our fans. He’s done a great job for the organization."