Speculation: Kuznetsov terminates KHL deal

[BLNY]

Uhoh...Montreal needs a 2C, Demidov just signed... Montreal nightlife + Evgeny Kuznetsov

 

[blankall]

My man isn't just agreeing to terminate a 4 year deal to retire after putting up nearly a ppg in the KHL, unless the "mutual" part of this wasn't so mutual. I'm thinking he wants another crack at the NHL.

Best of luck to him, but he was pretty awful when he left, and very few players suddenly get better at age 33.

 

[Coffee]

St Louis?

 

[Jared Grayden]

Kuznetsov was awful with both Washington and Carolina. Maybe he wasn't off the coke, but not seeing how he would be useful in the NHL.

 

[Coffee]

Kuznetsov was awful with both Washington and Carolina. Maybe he wasn't off the coke, but not seeing how he would be useful in the NHL.

Assuming he’s been off it for over 6 months now, he has a chance of gaining speed and endurance back to normal in time for next season. Maybe even now

 

[Zine]

My man isn't just agreeing to terminate a 4 year deal to retire after putting up nearly a ppg in the KHL, unless the "mutual" part of this wasn't so mutual. I'm thinking he wants another crack at the NHL.

Kuznetsov is not touching the NHL with his current level of effort. The skill was obvious, but his intensity was not. He was horribly undisciplined too.

 

[Czechboy]

Many are seeing it as a NHL return. He can't play in playoffs so I'm seeing it as near the end of his career.

 

[Prairie Habs]

Montreal management scouted SKA on their trip to see demidov, who played a decent chunk of his season with kuznetzov. Montreal also has an open spot at 2C next season, and a 1/2 year stop gap contract could make sense until they find something long term.

 

[CostaRica]

After watching most SKA games this year all I’ll say is that Kuzy was an awful signing.
If you wanna guy who takes dumb penalties, whines to the referees often and has more giveaways than a 20 year old rookie then he’s your man.
Didn’t earn any of his ice time this year, was given it based on past reputation.

For SKA it’s a case where they win by losing a player.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

Montreal management scouted SKA on their trip to see demidov, who played a decent chunk of his season with kuznetzov. Montreal also has an open spot at 2C next season, and a 1/2 year stop gap contract could make sense until they find something long term.

Would the Habs really touch that though?

 

[Prairie Habs]

Would the Habs really touch that though?

My guess is no, just laying out some observations

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

My guess is no, just laying out some observations

Only way I see is if him and Demidov was good friends or something

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Plenty of accessible coke in Montréal!!!

 

[Ford Prefect]

Would the Habs really touch that though?

I think it depends on the vibe of the room. When Patches wore the C, I don't think it was a tight room. I haven't heard or seen anything to think that's the case now. Look at the players that made progess this season: Anderson, Gallagher, Armia, Dvorak... I would guess the bond is pretty tight in there, and they may believe that the room could police itself, and help him along.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Another Rotenberg special...

If SKA doesn't fire Rotten, they will lose everything even if they sign McDrai and Kuch...

 

[EpochLink]

he needs to go to a place where the BUMPS are good

 

[Djp]

Is he off the coke and ready to bring it again

A coke and a smile?

 

[MrLunatik]

Many are seeing it as a NHL return. He can't play in playoffs so I'm seeing it as near the end of his career.

Since his KHL season in finished, it could be either. It's not like they're terminating mid-season.

 

[Kocur Dill]

if he's clean and motivated, with a sence of brevity and purpose. God Bless him. I hope he kills it.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

As a UFA Kuznetsov could sign a NHL contract to play the remainder of this regular season. But he would not be playoff eligible as he wasn’t on a team’s Reserve List at the trade deadline.

Would be funny if he signs with a playoff team just to play a handful of meaningless games but possibly get a ring/his name on the cup ultimately

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Maybe this is a case of SKA just being unhappy with him and they decided to mutually part ways?

Unless something's seriously changed, SKA has always been the cream of the crop. They lost in the 1st round and a poster here who watched all their games brought up a lot of his bad habits - which would certainly makes sense given how things ended with the Caps. They're probably just shaking things up.

Maybe he signs with another KHL team in the off-season or hangs em up.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Uhoh...Montreal needs a 2C, Demidov just signed... Montreal nightlife + Evgeny Kuznetsov

If he’s anything like he was in Washington and Carolina the last few seasons, he will be a net negative to Montreal. Not exaggerating when I say he was arguably the worst center in the league in his own end his final season or two, I have never seen an NHL player give so few f***s. That one clip everyone likes to post of PLD mailing it on a shift with Columbus, that was Kuzy every shift.

Kuzy is one of my all time favorites and the only reason the Caps won the Cup in 2018 was because he transformed into a top 15 player in the world for a few months but he just doesn’t seem to enjoy being a hockey player.

 

[ViD]

Kuznetsov said it many times hockey no longer brings any excitement to him, I highly doubt he continues his career unless it’s a money deal based off his reputation somewhere in Chelyabinsk. Any team signing him should not expect any kind of an honest effort

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Is he off the coke and ready to bring it again

I snorted.

 

[Ford Prefect]

I snorted.

That's what Kuznetsov said!

That clip cracks me up every time. It's that David Koechner nod at the start.