Evgeny Kuznetsov reveals why he needed the NHL Player Assistance Program

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Carl Vaillancourt
August 5, 2024 (8:15 PM)

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It would be an understatement to say that the last season for Russian player Evgeny Kuznetsov was, to say the least, painful in the NHL.

After benefiting from the NHL's player assistance program, he returned to play only to be placed on waivers, and was eventually traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The general manager of the Washington Capitals, Brian MacLellan, got rid of him. He made headlines in 2019 for failing a doping test, which led to a four-year ban from staying in Russia. It is understood that he had an addiction to some illicit substance or multiple illicit substances; only blood tests can confirm this.

Declared positive for cocaine, Evgeny Kuznetsov banned from international hockey for 4 years.

Evgeny Kuznetsov reveals the truth about his entry into the NHL Player Assistance Program

In an interview with The Hockey News, the new player for SKA St. Petersburg admitted the real reason why he had to rely on the player assistance program. While many doubted it was a cocaine addiction, it was actually painkillers that were the Russian player's downfall.

Suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a debilitating disease that affects joint health and stability, Evgeny Kuznetsov was in excruciating pain when injured, and every game was torture for his body. The pain is intense, and the medication is there to help him cope with it.

"No one really believed me. I had rheumatoid arthritis. I was taking pills and injections all year long... I couldn't sleep for a year; I could only sleep two hours a night. I'm not the type to complain, but I had to, and no one really believed me. (General Manager) Brian MacLellan didn't even know I had been suffering all year." - Evgeny Kuznetsov

The good news is that the player claims to have been sober for three months now and feels better about himself.

In 2024-2025, he will have the chance to revive his career in the KHL with a league powerhouse. It will be interesting to see if he returns to the NHL or ends his career in the Gagarin circuit.

Credit: The Hockey News
Kuznetsov Opens Up About Health Problems With Capitals & Why He Entered Player Assistance Program: 'I'd Been Suffering All Year'