The Carolina Hurricanes placed Evgeny Kuznetsov on waivers Wednesday in an effort to terminate his contract.
Kuznetsov was due to receive $6 million in salary in the final season of his seven-year, $64.2 million contract signed in 2017 with the Washington Capitals.
“Ultimately, both parties agreed that this was the best solution for both the player and the team,” Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said.
“We thank Evgeny for his time with the team and wish him and his family the best.”
Reports emerged earlier this week that Kuznetsov was planning to terminate his contract by mutual agreement and return home to Russia to play with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.
He had to agree to terminate his contract now, unless the Hurricanes decided to wait until another buyout window opened later this summer.
The Hurricanes acquired Kuznetsov from Washington before the March 2024 trade deadline. The Capitals agreed to retain half of his $7.8 million salary. His departure from North America clears any salary obligations for both teams.
Kuznetsov led the Capitals in the playoffs in 2018, the year the team won the Stanley Cup, but has had an up-and-down career since. Last year with the Hurricanes, he had just 13 points in 30 regular-season and playoff games. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour even sat Kuznetsov out of the playoffs, even though he was healthy.