Caps put Kuznetsov on waivers after he was cleared to practice
ARLINGTON, VA. » The Washington Capitals put Evgeny Kuznetsov on waivers on Saturday, a surprising move that came hours after the mercurial center was cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to resume practicing.
Kuznetsov spent the past month receiving care in the program. General manager Brian MacLellan said waiving the 31-year-old Russian is a means to an end to give Kuznetsov the change of scenery he’s been wanting.
“It’s about a fresh start for Kuzy,” MacLellan said. “He’s been looking for a change in an environment, and I think this might set the wheels in motion for that to be accomplished.”
With one year left on his contract and $8 million owed to him, Kuznetsov would seem unlikely to be claimed by another team. MacLellan expects Kuznetsov to be assigned to Hershey of the American Hockey League if he clears at 2 p.m. Sunday.
It’s unclear if Kuznetsov would report. A message sent to his agent seeking comment was not immediately returned.
No matter what, the next game Kuznetsov plays almost certainly will not be with the Capitals,
which would have seemed crazy six years ago when he was their leading scorer on their Stanley Cup run but became more realistic in recent offseasons when he was a frequent subject of trade rumors given his inconsistent performance.
“We have a history here that’s gone on for a while, and I think it’s frustrating on both sides,” MacLellan said. “It’s just an opportunity for our side, too, to start fresh and try to get him an opportunity to continue his career.”
Kuznetsov struggled this season before going into the player assistance program, putting up just 17 points in 43 games. OILERS 2, KRAKEN 1 » Leon Draisaitl scored his 30th goal of the season off the leagueleading 73rd assist from Connor McDavid, Brett Kulak scored early in the third period, and Edmonton beat Seattle.
Stuart Skinner made 24 saves and nearly posted his third shutout of the season as Edmonton won its third straight, kept the pressure on Vegas for second place in the Pacific Division and swept all four games in the season series with Seattle.
Edmonton has won six straight against the Kraken and is 9-2-0 against them since Seattle joined the NHL.
Eeli Tolvanen scored for Seattle and Philipp Grubauer finished with 22 saves. JETS 5, HURRICANES 3 » Sean Monahan scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:13 left and Winnipeg rallied from a three-goal deficit in the third period to beat Carolina.
After Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov went 10 feet out in front of his crease to try to clear the puck but failed, Monahan controlled the puck and then shot it into the empty net as Kochetkov tried to scramble back.
Nino Niederreiter added an empty-net goal with 10 seconds left for his second goal of the period. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele also scored for Winnipeg, which won for the fifth time in six games.
Sebastian Aho, Martin Necas and Teuvo Teravainen scored for Carolina. Andrei Svechnikov had two assists and Kochetkov made 28 saves as the Hurricanes lost for the third time in five games.
PANTHERS 4, RED WINGS 0 » Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 shots for his fourth shutout of the season, Sam Reinhart scored his 42nd goal, and Florida beat Detroit.
Bobrovsky got his 42nd career shutout and fifth against the Red Wings, and has won nine of his last 10 starts overall.
Brandon Montour had a goal and two assists, Evan Rodrigues had a goal and an assist, and Carter Verhaeghe added a powerplay goal for the Panthers.
Pettersson agrees to 8-year extension with Canucks
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA » Four-time All-Star Elias Pettersson agreed to an eightyear contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks, the team announced Saturday.
Terms of the deal, which kicks in next season, were not disclosed.
“I’m super excited, this is where I wanted to be,” Pettersson said at a news conference.
The star center referenced the impact president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin have had in helping assure him his future is in Vancouver.
“I always wanted to play for a good team and I wanted to see where this team was heading and ever since Jim and Patrik have come in, obviously getting to know them and seeing the direction we’re going in as an organization, I’ve liked everything I’ve seen,” he said.