Evgeny Kuznetsov signs KHL contract with SKA St. Peterburg

Kuznetsov has agreed to a contract with SKA St. Petersburg for four years which takes him home to where he grew up and learned the game.

Kuznetsov a veteran of 743 National Hockey League games with the Washington Capitals & Carolina Hurricanes was recently given the green light to continue his career in the NHL after participating in the Player Assistance program but asked the Carolina Hurricanes to release him from his contract shortly after.

For some reason in the last couple of years, Kuznetsov struggled in North America so it's entirely possible heading home will help him resurrect a promising career where he was able to capture a Stanley Cup and play alongside countryman Alexander Ovechkin for the majority of his career within North America.

Whatever the motivating factor was to return home, whether he was homesick or needed to experience a different pace in life, this is strictly Kuznetsov's decision that he made and hopefully, it's the right one for him. It is likely that unless he plays to team Russia down the road and they are allowed to participate in international events we have seen the last of Kuznetsov on this side of the ocean, at least for the foreseeable future.