Amidst the high-stakes drama of the NHL season, Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko is in the throes of a challenging period. The Russian athlete, who previously dazzled with a 74-point performance, signed a two-year contract worth $11 million, but his recent form has dipped. With just 15 points, including four goals and 11 assists across 21 games, Kuzmenko's output has notably diminished.
The talented winger found himself sidelined as a healthy scratch on two occasions. Adding to his woes, Kuzmenko sustained a facial injury during a game against the New York Islanders when a shot from teammate JT Miller was deflected. This incident has temporarily kept him out of the lineup, although he is slated for a return shortly.
Despite these setbacks, Kuzmenko demonstrated his scoring ability in a recent matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena. He scored a goal off an assist from Miller, who had seized a loose puck and set Kuzmenko up for a wrist shot that sailed past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. Nevertheless, this effort was not enough to steer the team to victory, with the Canucks falling 4-1.
"It doesn't matter if I scored … it doesn't matter if my score doesn't help the team," Kuzmenko reflected post-game. "I need to be better, this I understand. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season."
First Line Struggles
The Canucks' first line, which features Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has struggled to match the performance of their second-line counterparts. This is evident both in terms of scoring and overall play within the first quarter of the NHL season. While Pettersson, serving as the center, has notched 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists, right winger Mikheyev has contributed 12 points through seven goals and five assists.
Coach Tocchet's Expectations
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has been clear about his expectations from Kuzmenko. Describing the winger's current season performance as "OK," Tocchet has called for increased effort and productivity. The coach's decision to bench Kuzmenko for consecutive games against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks in late November speaks volumes about the need for improvement.
"He's got to get his game a little bit more sharpened up," Tocchet remarked on November 27. "It's not about last year; it's about this year for us. And he's a guy that needed a reset."
Tocchet has outlined specific areas for Kuzmenko to focus on: intensifying his engagement in puck battles along the boards and responding more swiftly on defense in the neutral zone. "Those are the little things that I value around here. It’s not about just scoring goals. Goal scorers are going to go through slumps," Tocchet explained. "The little things matter. That's part of our staples, and he has to understand that's the Bible for us around here."
Kuzmenko's lone goal and solid performance in the loss to Vegas did not go unnoticed by Tocchet, who commended the winger's concentrated play, particularly in the third period. "If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," said Tocchet. "He wasn’t zigzagging, backward skating defending; he was going forward."
Acknowledging the high expectations placed upon him, Kuzmenko expressed his commitment to improving his performance. He recognized the statistical concern with his current four-goal tally this year and pledged to maintain his focus on aiding the team. When questioned about his mindset during the prolonged goal drought throughout November, Kuzmenko replied with a smile, "What interesting questions about mentality. It's an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me. It’s simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it’s simple."
Looking ahead, Kuzmenko is eager to build on his latest performance when the Canucks face off against the Calgary Flames on Saturday. As the season progresses, the winger's ability to adapt and meet the challenges laid out by his coach will be critical to both his personal success and the fortunes of the Vancouver Canucks.