Pittsburgh Penguins' Jake Guentzel (59) reaches for a loose puck in front of Winnipeg Jets' Dylan DeMelo (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Evgeni Kuznetsov found a new home ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
The Washington Capitals shipped the forward to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday for a third-round pick at the 2025 draft after he passed through waivers earlier this week.
The Capitals will retain 50 per cent of the 31-year-old’s remaining salary, which brings his cap hit down to US$3.9 million for the Hurricanes through 2024-25.
Carolina, which sits second in the Metropolitan Division and lost to the Florida Panthers in last year’s Eastern Conference final, made an even bigger splash Thursday night when they acquired forward Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins for winger Michael Bunting, a trio of prospects and conditional two draft picks.
Cleared to resume practising after entering the league’s player assistance program last month, Kuznetsov has six goals and 17 points in 43 games this season.
The Russian has 171 goals and 397 assists for 568 points in 723 career regular-season games over parts of 11 seasons with Washington. Kuznetsov, who won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, has added 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) in 87 playoff appearances.
The arms race in the Western Conference, meanwhile, started before last month’s all-star break.
Vancouver acquired Elias Lindholm from Calgary and Winnipeg snagged fellow centre Sean Monahan from Montreal.
Dallas made a big move last week when the Stars got defenceman Chris Tanev from the Flames.
Never shy to wheel and deal, Vegas acquired winger Anthony Mantha from Washington on Tuesday.
Edmonton got into the action on a busy Wednesday when the Oilers grabbed winger Adam Henrique and centre Sam Carrick from Anaheim.
Colorado acquired defenceman Sean Walker from Philadelphia before adding centre Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo in a deal that sent blueliner Bowen Byram the other way.
Vegas then made waves by getting prized defenceman Noah Hanifin from Calgary.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2024.
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