Eight teams of the National Hockey League refused to sign a contract with Russian forward Evgeny Kuznetsov this offseason, with Toronto and Florida being the last to exit negotiations.
According to data from one source, in recent months, the hockey player's agents have been actively negotiating with teams across the ocean; however, for various reasons, the clubs did not dare to enter into agreements with a player who had previously been involved in scandalous situations. Until the last moment, there was a possibility that Evgeny would still return to the league.
Florida considered the player as a potential replacement for Alexander Barkov, who was sidelined due to injury. However, the management of the current Stanley Cup holder opted for other candidates. Representatives from Toronto also showed interest but ultimately doubted that Evgeny could significantly strengthen the team.
Earlier, the press service of Magnitogorsk's Metallurg announced the signing of a contract with the former Washington Capitals forward. The agreement with the forward is valid until the end of the 2025/2026 season. Last year, Kuznetsov played for SKA St. Petersburg. The forward played 45 games in the KHL and scored 40 points (13+27).
