The Washington Capitals have been seeing Evgeny Kuznetsov around the facility quite a bit this summer, as he's been spending a lot of the offseason around the D.C. area with family while also getting in some workouts in the MedStar Capitals Iceplex Adult Hockey League.
Amid his continued cameos for various beer league teams in the area, he is still looking for an NHL contract after he and SKA St. Petersburg agreed to mutually terminate his KHL contract at the end of the season. He has not been present at the Capitals' informal skates.
That said, some are wondering if a professional tryout would be an option for Kuznetsov, and if that opportunity could present itself in D.C.
Ultimately, although he's been around the area, a PTO in Washington isn't a likely path for the 33-year-old.
First, the Capitals and Kuznetsov didn't end things on the best of terms. Kuznetsov struggled in his final seasons with Washington, and after putting up 17 points through the first 43 games of 2023-24, he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program for the second time. After returning, he was placed on waivers and assigned to the AHL's Hershey Bears, and days later, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes while D.C. retained half his salary.
Kuznetsov then terminated his NHL contract altogether and took his talents overseas, signing a four-year deal with SKA that only lasted 39 games. Though he put up solid production with 37 points, he again struggled at times, and his agent, Shumi Babayev, didn't like how he was utilized.
While he is dedicated to proving he's still capable of being the star player that he was back when he helped lead the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018, there are questions regarding his commitment and consistency, which he hasn't been able to show over the last few seasons.
Sure, bringing on Kuznetsov on a tryout is a low-risk option, and it would give the team another option to look at when it comes to the vacant third-line center role following Lars Eller's departure.
However, that job appears to be destined for Connor McMichael, and the front office has been adamant about getting younger and injecting more prospects into the mix. Hendrix Lapierre is also looking for his opportunity, and Henrik Rybinski's a dark horse for a spot, too.
Looking At McMichael's Opportunity For 2025-26 & How It Bolsters The Capitals
Connor McMichael really took his game to a new level this past season, putting up career numbers while thriving with top-six minutes and more responsibility. And going into this year, he's expected to get an even bigger role.
At the end of the day, a Kuznetsov reunion just doesn't appear to be in the cards.