If you can believe it, Kuznetsov was going to make $8 million had he stayed with the Hurricanes. He essentially turned away $7 million. If that doesn't speak to dedication for wanting to play in your home country instead, nothing else will. Either that or there was something else internally going on that we were never made aware of.
All signs point to it being more personal struggles, as Kuznetsov entered the NHLPA's Player Assistance program in February, and then got traded. He had the worst season of his career, having scored only eight goals and 16 assists in 63 games with the Capitals and Hurricanes.