Andrei Kuzmenko, the Vancouver Canucks winger, is candid about the hurdles he's facing this season. Despite securing a lucrative two-year deal worth $11 million on the back of an impressive 74-point campaign last year, Kuzmenko has seen a downturn in his productivity on the ice.
With a modest tally of 15 points, comprising four goals and 11 assists across 21 games, Kuzmenko has found himself benched twice as a healthy scratch. Compounding his challenges, he recently sustained a facial injury from a deflected shot by teammate JT Miller during Wednesday’s clash with the New York Islanders. Although the injury has resulted in him missing game time, his return to the lineup appears imminent.
In Thursday's matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena, Kuzmenko managed to score a goal, albeit in a losing effort where the Canucks fell 4-1. The play saw Miller pounce on a loose puck, drive towards the net, and serve up a pass to Kuzmenko, who then rifled a wrist shot past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson.
"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."
Comparing Lines
The Canucks' top line, featuring Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has been overshadowed by their second-line counterparts in both scoring and overall performance in the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, operating as the center, has notched 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists. Mikheyev, on the right wing, has contributed 12 points with seven goals and five assists.
Coach's Perspective
Rick Tocchet, the head coach of the Canucks, has made it clear that he expects more from Kuzmenko, describing the winger's current season contributions as just "OK" and calling for a greater level of effort. Tocchet's response was to bench Kuzmenko for consecutive games against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks towards the end of November.
"He's got to get his game a little bit more sharpened up," Tocchet stated 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 laid out specific areas where he wants to see improvement from Kuzmenko, including a stronger presence in puck battles along the boards and quicker defensive transitions in the neutral zone.
"Those are the little things that I value around here. It's not just about scoring goals. Goal scorers will 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."
Despite the loss, Kuzmenko's goal and his performance, particularly in the third period, earned him some praise from Tocchet.
"If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," Tocchet observed. "He wasn't zigzagging or backward skating defending; he was moving forward."
Kuzmenko is well aware of the high expectations his coach has set and is eager to meet them. He acknowledges the statistical slump, especially his meager four-goal count this year, and remains committed to contributing to the team's success.
Addressing queries about his mindset during the prolonged goal drought that spanned nearly the entire month of November, Kuzmenko responded 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 determined to build upon Thursday's performance in the upcoming game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
The Russian winger's situation encapsulates the often harsh realities of professional sports, where past accolades offer no guarantees for future success. As the NHL season progresses, all eyes will be on Kuzmenko to see if he can recalibrate his game and live up to the expectations set by his contract and his coach.