The Washington Capitals made a surprising move by placing Evgeny Kuznetsov on waivers after he was cleared to resume practicing following a stint in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. General manager Brian MacLellan stated that waiving the 31-year-old Russian center is aimed at providing Kuznetsov with the fresh start he desires, suggesting a change of scenery may be beneficial for him.
With one year remaining on his contract and $8 million owed to him, it is unlikely that Kuznetsov will be claimed by another team. MacLellan anticipates Kuznetsov being assigned to Hershey of the American Hockey League if he clears waivers on Sunday.
