Just a few weeks ago, Kuznetsov entered the NHL Player's Assistance Program for an undisclosed reason, and earlier today, Kuznetsov was actually cleared to return to the Capitals. With this decision, it looks clear that the Capitals don't see a future for Kuznetsov with this team anymore.
Kuznetsov has seriously underperformed in recent years considering he's owed $7.8M in salary annually. Just a few years ago he was a consistent threat to be a point per game player, now at 31 years old and with some personal issues, he's struggling just scoring 18 goals and 72 points in the last 124 games.
It'll be very interesting to see if another team decides to take a chance and claim Kuznetsov. Despite his massive contract, there's clearly an incredibly skilled player in there, and perhaps he could benefit from a change of scenery. If there's no takers, it's possible that his NHL career may end here.
