Evgeny Kuznetsov (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Evgeny Kuznetsov hasn’t given up on his ambition to return to the NHL. According to RG, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers are both actively considering the possibility of signing the 33-year-old forward. The Panthers, in particular, could view him as a timely replacement for captain Aleksander Barkov, who recently underwent surgery and is expected to be out of action for 7–9 months.
“Evgeny wants to play in the NHL. Right now he’s waiting on Toronto’s decision, though Florida is also an option,” a source close to the situation told RG.
Earlier this summer, RG ran an exclusive report revealing that no fewer than 10 NHL clubs had expressed interest in Kuznetsov’s services. Agent Shumi Babayev confirmed that many teams had reached out, believing Kuznetsov could still be a valuable contributor at a more affordable contract level.
There had also been reports — notably from Championat — that Kuznetsov was poised to sign with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL. But Babayev strongly denied those rumors in his remarks to RG:
“That’s just a rumor. We haven’t had any talks with Metallurg,” Babayev said.
Last season, Kuznetsov suited up for SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL, notching 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) over 39 games, all while managing nagging injuries. He also appeared in SKA’s brief Gagarin Cup playoff run, registering three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in a six-game series loss to Dynamo Moscow. The 2018 Stanley Cup champion’s time with SKA began with a four-year contract signed in the summer of 2024, but that deal was mutually terminated in April 2025.
Throughout the offseason, Babayev has reiterated Kuznetsov’s goal of returning to the NHL, noting that he and his team believe there are realistic roster fits among several clubs. As many as 10 teams had quietly expressed interest, according to that RG scoop, which suggests he may have multiple viable landing spots if things align just right.
Kuznetsov’s NHL résumé is impressive: he spent 11 seasons with the Washington Capitals, producing 568 points in 723 games, and was part of their 2018 Stanley Cup–winning squad. His last NHL stop came during the 2023–24 season, when he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. There, he tallied seven points (two goals, five assists) in 20 regular-season games, and added three points across six playoff appearances.
For now, the ball is in the court of prospective NHL suitors. Toronto remains a frontrunner, Florida is waiting in the wings, and Kuznetsov — backed by that earlier flurry of league-wide interest — is hoping that one of those doors reopens.