 After the 1995 draft, Kuznetsov played for the Dynamo Moscow before making the trip to North America.For two games in the 96–97 season and until the end of the 98–99 season he played for the Detroit Red Wings' AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Red Wings.He followed this with a single season playing for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks before being called up to the NHL in the 00–01 season.