Andrei Kuzmenko, the Vancouver Canucks' winger, has openly acknowledged the hurdles he's facing in the current NHL season. Despite coming off a remarkable 74-point campaign last year, which earned him a two-year $11 million contract, Kuzmenko has seen a dip in his production, tallying just 15 points—comprising four goals and 11 assists—in 21 games. This downturn in performance has led to him being benched as a healthy scratch on two occasions.
The Russian athlete also sustained a facial injury recently, when a puck deflected off teammate JT Miller's stick during a game against the New York Islanders. The incident has sidelined Kuzmenko temporarily, with team officials exercising caution before bringing him back into the lineup.
A Lone Bright Spot
In the face of these challenges, Kuzmenko managed to score a goal in the Thursday night matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena. The play unfolded as Miller pounced on a loose puck, driving towards the net before delivering a pass to Kuzmenko, who then fired a wrist shot past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. However, this effort was not enough to turn the tide for the Canucks, who succumbed to a 4-1 defeat.
"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." He underlined his commitment to improving and contributing more effectively to the team's efforts.
Comparing Lines
It's been a tough start for the Canucks' top line, featuring Kuzmenko, Ilia Mikheyev, and Elias Pettersson. In comparison to their second-line counterparts, they have been lagging in both scoring and overall impact on the ice. Pettersson, the center, has notched up an impressive 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists. On the other hand, Mikheyev, playing right wing, has accumulated 12 points from seven goals and five assists.
Coach Tocchet's Perspective
Rick Tocchet, the head coach of the Canucks, has expressed that he expects more from Kuzmenko, characterizing his current season's performance as "OK" but emphasizing the need for increased intensity and contribution. Tocchet made the decision to bench Kuzmenko for consecutive games against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks in late November, indicating the need for the player to "reset."
"He's got to get his game a little bit more sharpened up," Tocchet remarked on November 27. He has set clear expectations for Kuzmenko: engage more fiercely in puck battles along the boards and react 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 stated. "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 third-period performance in the game against the Golden Knights did earn him some praise from Tocchet, who noted his direct and purposeful play. "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."
For his part, Kuzmenko is well aware of the high expectations his coach has set and is eager to meet them. While acknowledging the statistical slump, particularly the prolonged goal drought that spanned almost the entire month of November, he remains resolute in his focus on team success.
"What interesting questions about mentality. It's an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," Kuzmenko said, addressing inquiries about his mindset during the challenging period. "It's simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it's simple."
With an eye toward improvement, Kuzmenko is looking to build on his recent performance as the Canucks prepare to take on the Calgary Flames on Saturday. His resilience and determination to enhance his game could be pivotal in turning his—and potentially the team's—fortunes around as the season progresses.