The Montreal Canadiens don’t have an interest in signing a top free agent, despite the interest from the player.
The Canadiens were linked as a potential landing spot to two-time All-Star forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who’s looking to make a comeback to the NHL. However, Kuznetsov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, revealed that the Canadiens are not interested in signing the star Russian.
“Evgeny Kuznetsov would be a great fit for Montreal, but there simply isn’t a spot for him with the Canadiens. And I don’t think he’ll get a chance,” Babaev wrote on X (translated from Russian). “I spoke with the club’s management, and we understood each other. Right now, Kuznetsov is highly motivated. He had a good season in St. Petersburg.”
Kuznetsov played in the KHL last season, but he’s looking to make a return to the NHL. The Russian had interest in signing with the Canadiens, but Montreal isn’t interested in the two-time All-Star.
Kuznetsov was selected 26th overall in 2010, and he helped the Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018. He was named an NHL All-Star in 2016 and 2022, and in his last season in the NHL, he had 8 goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 63 games.
Kuznetsov Looking to Make Comeback
After Kuznetsov didn’t sign with an NHL team a year ago, he went back to Russia and played in the KHL.
Yet, after one season in the KHL, Kuznetsov is looking to make a comeback, his agent told RG.org.
“I worked with Evgeny in Russia. In the U.S., he had a different agent, but now I represent his interests in the NHL,” Babaev explained to RG. “He asked for my opinion, and I’ve always said that the NHL is where he belongs. Last year, he was mentally and physically exhausted and wanted to come back to Russia. But even at 60–70% of his usual level, he was still one of the top players in the KHL.”
Babaev says he is now negotiating with NHL teams for Kuznetsov’s return to the NHL, and the Canadiens were one of the teams the Russian was interested in.
“The coach didn’t use him the way Evgeny would’ve liked,” Babaev said of the decision to part ways with SKA. “I told him: a year has passed, it’s a clean slate—this is the perfect moment to try and return to his previous level. He’s had time away from the NHL and now clearly sees the difference in the level of hockey. It’ll be easier for him to perform in a league where he spent so many years.”
Babev says 10 NHL teams have expressed interest in Kuznetsov.
Canadiens GM Not Ruling Out More Moves
Despite Montreal not being interested in Kuznetsov, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes isn’t ruling out the team making more moves.
Hughes says the goal is to build a Cup contender, and he believes he is getting close to that.
“My focus is more so on what we can do to build a team that’s capable of competing for the Stanley Cup,” Hughes said… “The reality is, we’re not going to put the perfect team together over the course of one summer. We recognize we have other things we’d like to accomplish.”
The Canadiens made the playoffs last season as the youngest NHL team to do so.
Agent: Canadiens Not Interested in Signing 2-Time All-Stra Free Agent