Evgeny Kuznetsov is getting interest from one top-level KHL team after having his four-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg terminated after only one season.
Sport-Express reporter Artur Khairullin is reporting that Kuznetsov’s next likely landing spot is Ak Bars Kazan.
Khairullin wrote in Russian on his Telegram page (per a Google translation):
According to my information, the probability of forward Evgeny Kuznetsov’s transfer to Ak Bars next season is quite high. Kazan head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin is in favor of signing the star hockey player.
Kuznetsov’s agent Shumi Babayev said of the report per Sport-Express, “There is no rush, teams are constantly contacting us. We are currently negotiating with KHL clubs.”
He added, “There is interest, but there are no specifics yet.”
Ak Bars is coming off a second round loss in the KHL’s Gagarin Cup Playoffs to Dynamo Moscow. Dmitrij Jaškin, Kuznetsov’s friend and former teammate with the Washington Capitals, is the team’s captain and best player. Jaskin, a four-time 30-goal scorer in the KHL, tied for the team-lead in tallies (35) and finished fourth in points (54) during the 2024-25 season.
Ak Bars general manager Marat Valiullin confirmed that the team is interested in landing the 2018 Stanley Cup champion and believed they could support him in the way he needs to be one of the top players in Russia.
“We haven’t spoken to the player’s representative,” Valiullin said to Match TV. “Kuznetsov is a top center, with the right approach the strongest center forward in Russia, we would like to see him in the club.
“But there were no specific conversations.”
Kuznetsov notched 37 points (12g, 25a) during the 2024-25 season and only played in 39 games due to two separate concussions he suffered.
