I have so many mixed feelings about this one:
It's a good flier to take if you're Carolina, because if he really does just need a new fresh start you got a ridiculously talented player for a third. Like naturally just going to blow you away if he's actually doing it, man practically invented a pass in a league that has seen everything and can somehow gain the zone without moving his feet half the time.
At the same time, that runway was all the way gone in Washington, and who knows for what reason overall but his participation in the program suggests it wasn't something easily fixed. Lord knows they tried to give him minutes this season and it just didn't take, but maybe that's part of the problem and he's trying to perform without his performance enhancer, or relapsing but not seeing the same benefits.
That's mild speculation but the point is a new limited role in a new team could help him get his wheels back on and actually pull out of this. Being with Orlov should help, because he seems like a straighter-laced dude and they've got the type of history for him to be babysat and really pull it together...
At the same time as that, I really hope the Hurricanes don't reactivate that Kuznetsov because he's a world-beater and it would be really f***ing irritating.
But at the same time as that part I don't want to root against a guy who is struggling and honestly doesn't deserve any real ire.
Man, f*** this trade. I want to be on the "good end" but I also just want him to be okay and maybe play okay instead of being the complete garbage we saw these last two years... but also if that means he just quit then f*** him again a little.