After the Washington Capitals’ season ended on Thursday night, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that center Evgeny Kuznetsov’s agents, Don Meehan and Craig Oster of Newport Sports, will meet with GM Brian MacLellan regarding a possible offseason trade.
“My understanding is Meehan and Oster plan to speak with [MacLellan] at some point about Kuznetsov, who still has two more years on his contract at a $7.8 million AAV,” LeBrun wrote in his latest NHL rumblings piece. “You may remember, as I reported two years ago, that at the time [Washington was] taking calls on Kuznetsov, but a trade never came to fruition. I think they’re happy they kept him around. But I wonder how that conversation goes with the new agents and [Capitals] management. Something to monitor.”
Kuznetsov led Washington in assists (43) and finished third in points (55) in 81 games this past season. Though, he also finished with a career-low -26 rating.
Kuznetsov has 165 goals and 551 points in 680 career NHL regular-season games, all in Washington, and has a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract. He has also earned 29 goals and 67 points in 87 career postseason outings, including when he led the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 32 points (including 12 goals) in 24 games.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday’s 32 Thoughts Podcast that Washington is “really going to explore” the possibility and said ”I would expect them to find a way to move Kuznetsov” this offseason.
By Harrison Brown