Evgeny Kuznetsov is back on the KHL scoresheet after signing a one-year contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk earlier this month. The 33-year-old center recorded the primary assist on Metallurg’s first goal in a 4-1 victory over Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Friday.
After receiving an outlet pass from defenseman Alexander Siryatsky, Kuznetsov sped down the left wing into Torpedo’s zone where the veteran pivot avoided two checks and found 18-year-old linemate Mikhail Fyodorov for the slam dunk finish.
The goal was the first of four unanswered from Metallurg as they improved their record to 11-1-2 on the season. They lead the KHL’s Eastern Conference with 24 standings points.
Kuznetsov started the game on the team’s fourth line with Nikita Korotkov and Luke Johnson before head coach Andrei Razin quickly promoted him to a line with Fyodorov and Andrei Kozlov. The former Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes forward played 14:09 of total ice time in the win, also recording three shots on goal, three hits, and a two-minute interference minor penalty.
After a long offseason looking for his next team that extended into October, Kuznetsov put pen to paper with Metallurg on October 1. The KHL season began almost a month prior, on September 5, so Kuznetsov is going to have to get back up to pace without any preseason preparation.
“[Kuznetsov] created a lot of chances today,” Razin told Match TV’s Pavel Lysenkov, as translated via Google Translate. “He could have earned more points, and he had a couple of opportunities to score himself. But his performance isn’t great yet. If he wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t have played. We’ll see how we get him into the game. In any case, we have a 13th forward in case someone isn’t up to par.”
Kuznetsov had some special support in the stands for his first game back. Former Capitals teammate Ilya Samsonov was at Arena Metallurg and posted a video on his Instagram Story rooting his good friend on.
The two Russian countrymen spent four seasons together in the Capitals organization before Samsonov departed in free agency after the 2021-22 season. They spent time together in Florida during the offseason.
Samsonov, a 2017 Gagarin Cup champion, is currently an unrestricted free agent after playing the 2024-25 campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights. The 28-year-old backstop came up through the Metallurg organization, playing 73 KHL games for the team before moving to the United States in 2018.
Kuznetsov signed his contract with Metallurg after a summer filled with rumors, including potential early interest from Ak Bars Kazan, and Kuznetsov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, constantly declaring that his client was ready to make an NHL return.
According to Match TV, Kuznetsov is only making 10 million rubles this season, the equivalent of $123K in the US, along with a 100 million ruble bonus ($1.23 million USD) if he finishes in the top three in KHL scorers. Kuznetsov recorded 37 points (12g, 25a) in 39 regular-season games with SKA last season and then added 3 points (1g, 2a) in 6 playoff games.
The always outspoken Kuznetsov recently chatted to Lysenkov about his tumultuous 2024-25 season, where he reportedly suffered two concussions and struggled to meet SKA’s expectations.
“There’s still a lot to be said about my performance since last season,” Kuznetsov said. “There’s a lot of talk and questions for me. That’s why I want to play here for at least one season. And not just play, but enjoy hockey, dedicate all my attention to it. Hockey is all I have in my head, and in that regard, Metallurg is a great fit for me.”
Kuznetsov will get his next chance to add to his KHL season point ledger when Metallurg hosts Avangard Omsk on Sunday.
