Evgeny Kuznetsov’s longtime teammate recently discussed the possibility of the center returning to the NHL.
After posting 12 goals and 37 points in 39 games with St. Petersburg this past KHL season, Kuznetsov is reportedly looking to return to the NHL.
The 33-year-old played 11 NHL seasons for the Washington Capitals, putting up 32 points in 24 playoff games when they won the Stanley Cup in 2018. In 2023-24, the Capitals traded Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes for a third-round pick at the NHL trade deadline, and he recorded seven points in 20 games and six points in 10 playoff games after the move.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin told Russian-language publication Gazeta.ru that Kuznetsov is sensible and can make the right choice to prove himself in the NHL again or in the KHL. But Ovechkin said he’s not Washington’s GM, and whether Kuznetsov can return to the Capitals is not the question for him to answer.
With August almost here, Kuznetsov remains a UFA, but this could change before NHL training camps begin in mid-September. His past success could ultimately lead to an NHL club giving him another opportunity, especially when considering he is one of the top UFAs left based on his potential. While he only had 24 points in 63 games in 2023-24, he had 55 points in 2022-23 and 78 points in 2021-22.
Here are three teams that could make sense as potential landing spots for Kuznetsov if he doesn't return to Washington.
After trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers during the 2024-25 season and losing Pius Suter in free agency to the St. Louis Blues this summer, the Vancouver Canucks could use another center. They’ve gone from having Miller and Elias Pettersson as a one-two punch down the middle to Pettersson and Filip Chytil, who came to the Canucks in the Miller trade and had 26 points in 56 games this past season while dealing with injury issues.
If the Canucks signed Kuznetsov, he would create some competition for the Canucks’ second-line center spot with Chytil. Even if he slotted in as Vancouver’s third-line center, he would still improve their depth down the middle. The third line of Dakota Joshua, Teddy Blueger and Conor Garland that thrived at times in 2023-24 was separated for most of this past season, and Joshua is now with the Toronto Maple Leafs, so adding Kuznetsov shouldn’t disrupt the bottom six’s chemistry, either. Blueger can stay in an effective depth role, while Vancouver can ease 22-year-old Aatu Raty into a full-time NHL role.
The Canucks have $3.27 million in salary cap space, but Kuznetsov’s agent said he’s not an $8-million player anymore and could be a steal for cap-strapped teams. If signed to a cheap, one-year deal, Kuznetsov could be a solid low-risk, high-reward addition for the Canucks.
The Colorado Avalanche could be an interesting landing spot for Kuznetsov. After trading Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets this off-season, it would not be particularly surprising if they were open to adding another option to consider for their third-line center spot.
With Brock Nelson as the second-line center, Jack Drury is third in the depth chart, and he had nine points in 33 games with the Avalanche after they acquired him from the Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade. Drury is better at taking faceoffs than Kuznetsov, but the latter can provide more secondary scoring for the Avalanche, which lost Jonathan Drouin in free agency after he averaged 0.76 points per game in two seasons in Colorado.
The Avalanche are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, and Kuznetsov’s past playoff success should appeal to them. They have about $3.35 million in cap space, so the center would have to take a prove-it, bargain deal to play for them, but it could be worth it for the team and player.
Five Potential Destinations For Max Pacioretty in 2025-26With the bulk of the sought-after unrestricted free agents signed in the first three weeks of July, teams appear to be accelerating the invitation of players on professional tryouts, as the New York Rangers did with two-time Stanley Cup winner Conor Sheary earlier this week. One of the more successful camp invites last September was veteran forward Max Pacioretty.
The retooling Boston Bruins brought in wingers Viktor Arvidsson, Tanner Jeannot, Mikey Eyssimont and center Sean Kuraly as part of their off-season moves. That said, they could use help at the center position.
Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, Casey Mittelstadt and Morgan Geekie are options at center in the top two lines. Zacha played most of the season as the center for Geekie and David Pastrnak, but he and Lindholm each recorded 47 points this past season, while Mittelstadt had only six points in 18 games after being acquired at the trade deadline.
Kuznetsov should entice the Bruins, especially since there are not many other notable free agents left who can play center.
While Kuznetsov would not be a true answer for the Bruins’ first-line center problem, he would offer them another intriguing playmaker to work with in their middle six and on their power play. If he bounces back from his last NHL season, Kuznetsov may even get opportunities to set up Pastrnak for goals on the first line.
The Bruins have about $2.08 million in cap space, so Kuznetsov would have to take less money, even if he could play a larger role there. If he wants to just take this next season to prove himself back in the NHL, he’d be a solid addition to a Bruins club that could use more skill and offense.
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Steven Lorentz is having a summer to remember.
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward has been busy ever since the season ended at the hands of the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs. Lorentz was a pending unrestricted free agent, with extension talks nearly going down to the wire before free agency opened on July 1.
He and the Maple Leafs agreed on a three-year, $4.05 million extension on June 30, one day before he was set to hit the open market. Similar to his term, Lorentz’s $1.35 million annual average value is the largest of his NHL career.
Saturday, though, likely topped any day of his life as he and his wife, Erin, got married.
The two tied the knot on Saturday afternoon, surrounded by family and friends. Two other Maple Leafs, Bobby McMann and Anthony Stolarz, along with their partners, took a selfie together and also got a photo with the groom.
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Cameos In Daughter’s TikTok While Juggling Offseason DutiesToronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is in peak-summer form.
Lorentz and his wife got engaged last summer, after he and the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup. Following an exciting offseason, the forward attended Maple Leafs training camp on a professional tryout before signing a one-year, $775,000 contract right before the regular season began.
Along with getting married and signing a huge extension, Lorentz also participated in the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy festivities earlier in July. He was spotted speaking with a few IndyCar drivers and even did a lap of the track in one of the cars.
Maple Leafs Prospect Ben Danford Earns Invite To Hockey Canada's World Juniors Summer ShowcaseThe Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive prospect, Ben Danford, is among the 44 promising players invited to Hockey Canada’s World Juniors Summer Showcase. Hockey Canada unveiled the 44 prospects who will head to Minnesota for the showcase, which begins Sunday and runs through August 2 in Minneapolis.
Lorentz is coming off a career season with the Maple Leafs, where he scored eight goals and 11 assists (a career-high) for 19 points in 80 games. He also tallied two assists, both coming against his former club in the second round of the playoffs.
The Carolina Hurricanes drafted the Kitchener, Ontario-born product in the seventh round (186th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. Lorentz has scored 62 points (29 goals and 33 assists) in 310 games, split with Toronto, Florida, Carolina, and the San Jose Sharks, since entering the NHL in 2021.
This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Maple Leafs Forward Steven Lorentz’s Thrilling Summer Continues With Marriage To Wife, Erin
(Top photo of Lorentz and wife, Erin: @slorentz16 / Instagram)
By Jared Clinton, features writer
Playing an eternal second fiddle in the franchise record books is a fate suffered by most players who suit up for the Edmonton Oilers. Such is life when skating in the seismic shadow of Wayne Gretzky.
Take Connor McDavid’s Conn Smythe-winning 42-point performance in the 2024 post-season, for instance. For this generation, it stands as the most remarkable feat of post-season output. But, statistically, it doesn’t match The Great One and his NHL record 47-point post-season in 1985.
But McDavid isn’t the only player whose modern spring heroics are eclipsed by a superstar from bygone days. Evgeni Malkin, too, understands the futility of chasing his particular franchise’s lore.
‘Geno’ has seen his highest highs fall short of those authored by Mario Lemieux. To wit, Malkin’s 36-point playoff in 2009 was then the seventh-best all-time and made him the first player in the post-lockout era to break 35 points in one post-season. Yet, like McDavid, you won’t find Malkin on our Countdown of best offensive playoff performances by franchise, as it fell well short of Lemieux’s mondo 44-point effort in 1991.
Somewhat surprisingly, though, our Countdown isn’t dominated by stars from yesteryear. Nearly half of NHL outfits have seen franchise-best playoff marks set in the past 20 years.
Wayne Gretzky (47 PTS, 1984-85)
In the most dominant playoff ever, Gretzky had more four-plus-point games (six) than games with one point or fewer.
Mario Lemieux (44 PTS, 1990-91)
He missed Game 3 of the final, but Lemieux had goals in his last 10 appearances, guiding Pens to their first Cup.
Wayne Gretzky (40 PTS, 1992-93)
No. 99 dashed the Cup hopes of three Canadian clubs before Montreal exacted revenge for its compatriots in the final.
Mike Bossy (35 PTS, 1980-81)
Bryan Trottier had three consecutive 29-point playoffs. But Bossy’s 17-goal, 35-point output hasn’t been matched.
Doug Gilmour (35 PTS, 1992-93)
Despite falling short of the final, Gilmour had a playoff-best 25 assists and finished 15 points clear of any teammate.
Joe Sakic (34 PTS, 1995-96)
His 18-goal, 34-point marks in 1996 are bests, but Sakic also led 2001 Cup-winning Avs in goals and points.
Brian Leetch (34 PTS, 1993-94)
At the time, Leetch’s 11 goals made him only second ‘D’ with single-playoff double-digit tally total in NHL history.
Nikita Kucherov (34 PTS, 2019-20)
Does a healthy Brayden Point usurp Kucherov? Point finished one point back in two fewer games during ’20 Cup run.
Rick Middleton (33 PTS, 1982-83)
Middleton posted 100 career playoff points. His 1983 performance accounts for nearly one-third of that production.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (32 PTS, 2017-18)
Kuznetsov led all Caps scorers by five points and had playoff-topping output, but he lost Smythe to Alex Ovechkin.
Al Macinnis (31 PTS, 1988-89)
Four of MacInnis’ seven goals were winners for champion Flames, including deciders in Games 4 and 5 of final.
Pavel Bure (31 PTS, 1993-94)
Bure didn’t get a chance at an encore, really. He played only 15 playoff games across his final nine NHL seasons.
Daniel Briere (30 PTS, 2009-10)
Briere leads a class of bridesmaids, as Philly’s top four single-playoff offensive performers each lost in the Cup final.
Logan Couture (30 PTS, 2015-16)
Couture deserves credit for his post-season production. He led the 2016, 2018 and 2019 Sharks outfits in scoring.
Denis Savard (29 PTS, 1984-85)
He was stopped by the Gretzky-led Oilers, but Savard was exceptional in 1985, scoring nearly two points per game.
Steve Payne (29 PTS, 1980-81)
Only three players in NHL history have more goals in one playoff than Payne, who stunned with 17 tallies in 1981.
Eric Staal (28 PTS, 2005-06)
Staal’s sophomore season was his best. He paced Canes to Cup, led playoff scoring and finished fourth in Hart race.
Henrik Zetterberg (27 PTS, 2007-08)
Zetterberg put a point on his Conn Smythe-winning total with the game-winner that handed Wings the ’08 Cup.
Frank Mahovlich (27 PTS, 1970-71)
Forget passing ‘The Big M.’ No Canadien in past three decades cracks the top 15 on Habs’ single-year scoring list.
Jack Eichel (26 PTS, 2022-23)
Small sample, but Eichel has plenty of competition. Five Knights have scored 20-plus points in one playoff campaign.
Matthew Tkachuk (24 PTS, 2022-23)
In 2023, Tkachuk tied then-record for OT goals in one playoff (three), including winner that saved Cats in Round 1.
Patrik Elias (23 PTS, 2000-01)
Only fitting that Devils’ all-time leading scorer, Elias, has the franchise’s best single-season post-season output.
Ryan O’Reilly (23 PTS, 2018-19)
Jordan Binnington’s emergence grabbed headlines, but Blues don’t win 2019 Cup without 200-foot dynamo O’Reilly.
Daniel Alfredsson (22 PTS, 2006-07)
Alfredsson’s 14 goals during 2007 playoffs are most by any player 34 or older in one post-season in league history.
Gilbert Perreault (21 PTS, 1979-80)
The first truly great Sabre, Perreault pairs a franchise-leading point total with unmatched single-playoff heroics.
Blake Wheeler (21 PTS, 2017-18)
Wheeler is one of seven forwards in NHL history to notch 20-plus points in one playoff with three or fewer goals.
Ryan Getzlaf (20 PTS, 2014-15)
Getzlaf held or tied for scoring lead in nine of 11 post-seasons with Ducks, including 17 points in 2007 Cup run.
Marian Gaborik (17 PTS, 2002-03)
In his – and Minnesota’s – first post-season, Gaborik powered the Cinderella Wild to the Western Conference final.
Filip Forsberg (16 PTS, 2017-18)
Forsberg hit 16 points in consecutive playoffs. In 2017, he did so in 22 games. In 2018, he reached the total in 13 games.
Yanni Gourde (13 PTS, 2022-23)
Of Gourde’s 13 points, none was bigger than the OT-winner that gave Seattle a Game 1 victory in the second round.
Artemi Panarin (11 PTS, 2018-19)
Panarin helped power the biggest playoff upset ever, as the Jackets swept the Lightning in the opening round.
N/A
Utah left Jets/Coyotes history behind in the move. Apologies to Dale Hawerchuk and his 13-point 1987 playoff.
This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.
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