Evgeny Kuznetsov is an unrestricted free agent for a second-straight offseason after a tumultuous 2024-25 campaign with SKA Saint Petersburg.
Tuesday, Kuznetsov and the KHL club agreed to mutually terminate the remaining three seasons of the forward’s contract.
“Good luck for the future!” SKA wrote in a statement.
The announcement comes a day after SKA was eliminated by Dynamo Moscow in six games during the KHL’s postseason. Young star Ivan Demidov also left the team for the NHL, signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
“It’s very hard, you don’t want to accept defeat, but unfortunately, this is reality,” Kuznetsov said of SKA’s elimination to Metaratings and translated by Google Translate. “You have to somehow find the strength to move on.”
He added, “Many thanks to the fans and the workers. They don’t deserve to see this. I want to apologize for this situation.”
Kuznetsov had three points (1g, 2a) in the six-game series. His Game 3 goal was his first for SKA since February 17, when he scored twice in a 5-3 win over Severstal during the regular season. Later, after the game, he was awarded a Predator mask by head coach Roman Rotenberg, playing off an Evgeni Malkin joke from a decade earlier.
The gesture seemed like a healing moment between SKA and Kuznetsov after a regular season marked by controversy. Kuznetsov, who had huge expectations after returning from the NHL, posted 37 points (12g, 25a) and only played in 39 games due to two separate concussions he suffered during the 2024-25 campaign. Kuzy made headlines in February with a slap shot empty-net goal he scored from feet away after SKA received negative chants from opposing fanbases.
A report late in the season emerged that Kuznetsov was “extremely doubtful” to suit up again for the team. Shortly after, Kuznetsov had his locker removed from SKA’s locker room ahead of the playoffs. But the 2018 Stanley Cup champion played in every game of the team’s postseason.
Kuznetsov came to SKA after mutually agreeing to terminate the rest of his NHL contract with the Carolina Hurricanes last July. Weeks later, he signed a four-year, incentive-laiden deal with SKA that paid him $92 million rubles per season (about $1 million USD at the time).
The bonuses Kuznetsov was offered and did not reach this season included:
- $3.5 million for finishing in the top 3 of KHL point-scoring
- $3.5 million for finishing in the top 3 of KHL goal-scoring
- $3.5 million for finishing in the top 3 of KHL plus-minus
- $1.2 million if SKA wins the Gagarin Cup
Kuznetsov began the year as SKA’s captain. He previously played for his hometown Traktor Chelyabinsk before leaving to play in the NHL with the Washington Capitals.
