[1] He spent the next two seasons playing in the junior Ontario Hockey League for the Peterborough Petes in an attempt to adapt to the North American style.
He signed for the Lightning in 2000 and was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate the Springfield Falcons, but he failed to score a single goal in 22 games and only registered four assists.
He was subsequently sent down to the East Coast Hockey League with the Mississippi Sea Wolves.
Kuznetsov returned to Russia in 2004 with Amur Khabarovsk of the Vysshaya Liga.
The following year he moved to the Russian Superleague with Metallurg Novokuznetsk before returning to Amur Khabarovsk.