Should the New York Rangers look to go after forward Evgeny Kuznetsov?
According to RG Media, Kuznetsov is mulling over a few different offers as he looks to make his return to the NHL after spending one season in the KHL.
Now, Kuznetsov’s agent Shumi Babaev is making clear that signing the 33-year-old won’t come at an expensive price.
“I don’t think the perception of Kuznetsov in the NHL has changed,” Babaev said. “He’s still viewed as a high-end talent with great potential. At the same time, he’s not going to cost what he did before—he’s not an $8 million player anymore. His new deal will be significantly more affordable, and for many cap-strapped teams, that could be a steal: a quality centre at a reasonable price. It’s actually a great moment for a comeback.”
Kuznetsov would be the perfect addition for the Rangers in order to better round out their bottom-six forward core.
During his last season in the NHL playing for the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, Kuznetsov showed he was still capable of being a solid contributor.
He may not be what he used to be earlier in his career, but Kuznetsov’s high upside makes him the perfect third-fourth line center.
The 33-year-old would add an extra element at center for the Rangers from an offensive standpoint that Juuso Parssinen and Sam Carrick just don’t provide.
Having Kuznetsov in the lineup will give the Rangers more confidence and flexibility to place Mika Zibanejad at the wing, allowing him to potentially play alongside J.T. Miller, whom he seemed to have a strong chemistry with.
The idea of Kuznetsov playing on the same line as Gabe Perreault is also an exciting scenario to fantasize about, as he’ll be able to help the young forward further develop.
At a cheap price, signing Kuznetsov is a low-risk, high-reward kind of move and kind of a no-brainer if he’s interested in coming to New York.
