- Sibir and Evgeny Kuznetsov agreed to terminate his one-year KHL deal after eight games
- His agent says the former Capitals center asked out for family reasons
- Read below for the club’s explanation and what comes next for Kuznetsov
Evgeny Kuznetsov’s stint in Novosibirsk is over after eight games.
Sibir announced Friday that the club and the former Capitals center mutually agreed to terminate his contract. Kuznetsov walks away without any compensation payout.
The request came from the player. Agent Shumi Babaev told Sport-Express that Kuznetsov went to Sibir management himself and asked to be let go because of a serious health issue involving a family member.
Babaev was asked whether Kuznetsov would look for another team right away.
“For now, we won’t be looking for a new club,” Babaev said. “Right now he has a serious family matter related to the health of one of his family members.”
His mother, Larisa, later left a comment under the club’s announcement saying his father is in serious condition.
Sibir general manager Lev Krutokhvostov explained the decision in the club’s release. He said the two sides had an honest conversation and agreed a split was best.
“The problem was less about the training process and more about Evgeny’s family circumstances, which meant he couldn’t meet 100 percent of the demands in practices and games,” Krutokhvostov said. “He understands the situation the team is in and that we were counting on him as a leader, but right now he can’t play at his max.”
The 2018 Cup winner signed a one-year deal with Sibir on Aug. 8. He finished with two goals and two assists in eight games, and the start looked promising. He scored in his very first game with the club, which was also the 100th KHL goal of his career.
Watch that milestone goal from his Sibir debut:
Don’t expect a homecoming in Chelyabinsk either. A source told TASS that Traktor, where Kuznetsov played from 2009 to 2014 and reached the Gagarin Cup Final, isn’t considering bringing him back.
Now 34, Kuznetsov is also a two-time world champion. He’s been back in Russia since 2024, when the Hurricanes put him on unconditional waivers to terminate his NHL contract.
Hockey can wait. Kuznetsov’s family comes first right now.
