Kuznetsov's Last Chance | Divorce from Razin | Why Kozlov believes in him | Ice

From Buffalo Glory to Waiver Limbo On January 5, 2011, Kuznetsov helped spark Russia’s miracle in Buffalo, finishing as the youngest on the team and co-leading scorer with Tarasenko after three assists in the final. On January 5, 2026, the 15th anniversary found him on KHL waivers, his future suspended for 48 hours. Although lower‑ranked teams had priority to claim him, only Salavat Yulaev pressed the button. The lack of suitors last summer reflected not NHL ambitions but the risk of a brilliant yet volatile player who can fracture a locker room overnight.

Mismatch with Metallurg, Reset under Viktor Kozlov Andrei Razin staked his credibility on Kuznetsov in autumn; aside from one Kazan outburst where he left the bench after being pulled, both sides kept decorum. Metallurg’s identity as the league’s fastest team magnified his missed preseason and conditioning gap; even targeted work with a fitness coach couldn’t raise him to Razin’s tempo. December brought just two appearances and a single goal as rising centers outcompeted him. Ufa offers a reset with Viktor Kozlov, a player‑coach known for finding personal keys and creating a more comfortable environment without such a high bar for pace.

The Rule of Three Forces the Waiver Route Metallurg couldn’t simply trade him to Salavat Yulaev because the club had already reached the limit on incoming ex‑SKA players, making a direct move impossible. The waiver list became the only viable detour, regardless of modest compensation or a manageable 10‑million‑ruble salary. Kuznetsov had already hit waivers in 2024 with Carolina at his own behest, walking from an $8 million deal to pursue a billion rubles from Rotenberg in Russia. Now he leaves Magnitogorsk not for money but to play.

Ufa Opportunity: Seize a Center Slot and Feed Rempal To secure his place in Ufa, he must displace a current center, a realistic task for a player of his pedigree. Unlike Magnitogorsk, where power‑play chances were scarce, he can become the primary setup man for Sheldon Rempal. Usage tailored to his playmaking—not sprint speed—offers the best path to revival.

High‑Variance Reinforcement with Joshua Ho‑Sang Salavat also welcomes Joshua Ho‑Sang, an extraordinary yet polarizing returnee whose prior stint combined dazzling skill with behavior that irritated teammates such as Grigory Panin. Two former NHL first‑rounders fortify a playoff‑chasing team on the edge of the top eight, a boost rivals like Sibir, Amur, and Admiral lack. Kozlov’s faith must be paired with guardrails: flamboyant personalities are hard to restrain, and an endless locker‑room carnival could sap discipline at the decisive moment. Despite Kuznetsov’s “only upward” refrain, the move swaps a league leader for a middling side and reads as a last chance he must seize out of respect for his talent and those who still believe in him.