The real reason Evgeny Kuznetzov abandoned the NHL and the Carolina Hurricanes exposed by reporter

Evgeny Kuznetsov played for eleven years in the NHL, recording 173 goals and 575 points in 743 career games. After four 70-point seasons and three more over 50, he found himself struggling to perform as well in the last season. After only 6 goals and 17 points in 43 games with his long-time team the Washington Capitals, he was signed away for 20 more games to the Carolina Hurricanes. However, the team terminated Evgeny Kuznetsov's contract in July, one year before it was set to expire.

At 32 years old, the former Stanley Cup winner will now play professionally back in his home country of Russia. After signing a deal with in the KHL, Evgeny Kuznetsov was officially presented to fans as a new member of the SKA in St. Petersburg.

Though Evgeny Kuznetsov is getting older and would probably like to play the last of his athletic years closer to where he is from, new reports indicate there was a deeper reason for his recent departure from the Carolina Hurricanes and NHL at large. One user on X shared a translation of a Russian reporter's comments on the player, stating that after a conversation with the forward's parents, they determined that he was rather unhappy with his last year in the league.

Though no additional corroborating statements have been released, this is not farfetched to the average hockey fan. Evgeny Kuznetsov did not have the best year production-wise, and after years with the team the first NHL team he played with, he was traded off waivers to another playoff disappointment. Hopefully, he finds a brighter and happier future in the KHL.