Fri, Mar 8, 2024 at 11:45am

KUZNETSOV CORRALLED BY CAROLINA

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired center Evgeny Kuznetsov from the Washington Capitals for a third-round draft pick in 2025.

What does it give the Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes acquired winger Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh previously, and now add another Stanley Cup champion in Kuznetsov. The latter has had issues this season, but he has tremendous playmaking ability and a proven scoring record in the postseason. This is a gamble for the 'Canes, but it could wind up paying huge dividends.

What does it give the Washington Capitals
For the Capitals, trading Kuznetsov seemed like an inevitability after he was placed on waivers and sent down to the AHL. They had to retain 50 percent of Kuznetsov's salary, which runs through 2024-25. Getting a third-rounder in '25 is a decent return for the Caps, since he was likely never going to play for Washington again.

Fantasy impact
Kuznetsov was likely going to be buried in the AHL if not traded, so he is a big winner at the deadline. Pick him up on the cheap and hope he can regain his scoring touch with Carolina.