Early this afternoon, what already seemed likely became official when news broke of a new four-year contract for Evgeny Kuznetsov with SKA St. Petersburg of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.  After agreeing to mutual contract termination with the Carolina Hurricanes two weeks ago, it seemed likely Kuznetsov would return home to Russia, and now has contract with SKA has effectively brought the NHL chapter of his career to a close.

On the most recent episode of The Silky Mitten State, Connor Earegood and I discussed Kuznetsov’s NHL career, focusing on the unique way he brought joy and creativity to a sport often mired in tiresome old rules and a self-imposed saturnine atmosphere.  Whether in his distinctive bird celebration or his one-of-a-kind slo mo shootout move, Kuznetsov refused to abide by hockey’s ancient wisdom, preferring to carve his own path.

At times, this flair seemed to leave him at odds with his coaches and management.  Perhaps had he been more willing to adhere to the sport’s norms, he might have had a longer run in the NHL, but Kuznetsov also climbed to the league’s mountaintop while winning the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals.

During that run, Kuznetsov was imperious—as a puck carrier, as a creator, as a scorer, and even his often suspect defensive game was dialed in.  He scored 31 points in the Caps’ 24 game run to glory, including arguably the biggest goal in franchise history to eliminate the Penguins in overtime.

Unfortunately for Kuznetsov, he was never quite able to replicate and sustain the form he showed in that 2018 postseason.  During that run, he was playing unquestionably like one of the best centers in the league, but in the years following, he hardly played like a center at all and struggled to provide much of anything other than playmaking.  There is something a bit reminiscent of Joe Flacco’s Super Bowl run with the Baltimore Ravens; he might not have ever been a top two or three quarterback in the NFL for any prolonged stretch during his career, but for a single postseason he was nothing short of transcendent.

Now, Kuznetsov heads back to the KHL and his home country, where his hockey career began, for his final chapter.  We at THN Detroit wish him well in the endeavor.