Amidst the high-paced action of the NHL season, Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko is confronting a challenging phase in his career. After a remarkable 74-point performance last season that secured him a lucrative two-year $11 million contract, Kuzmenko's productivity has seen a downturn. With just 15 points, including four goals and 11 assists over 21 games, he's found himself on the sidelines as a healthy scratch twice already.
Kuzmenko's recent struggles were compounded by a facial injury sustained during Wednesday's game against the New York Islanders—a deflection from teammate JT Miller's shot. The incident has temporarily sidelined him from the Canucks' lineup, with a return anticipated shortly.
In Thursday's matchup at Rogers Arena against the Vegas Golden Knights, Kuzmenko managed to net a goal, yet it was a small consolation in a 4-1 defeat. "It doesn't matter if I scored … it doesn’t matter if my score doesn’t help the team," Kuzmenko remarked post-game, acknowledging the need for personal improvement. "I need to be better, this I understand. That’s why I haven’t played (as much) this season."
The top line, featuring Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has been overshadowed by their second-line counterparts in scoring and overall play throughout the first quarter of the NHL season. While Pettersson has racked up an impressive 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists, Mikheyev has contributed 12 points through seven goals and five assists.
A Coach's Perspective
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet is expecting more from Kuzmenko, describing his current season's efforts as simply "OK" and calling for increased intensity. Tocchet made the decision to bench the winger for back-to-back 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 expressed on November 27. He sees the benching as a necessary "reset" for Kuzmenko, emphasizing the importance of the present season over past achievements.
Tocchet has set clear expectations for Kuzmenko: enhanced engagement in puck battles along the boards and swifter defensive transitions 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."
Despite the loss to the Golden Knights, Kuzmenko's third-period performance did not go unnoticed, with Tocchet commending his direct approach. "If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," Tocchet observed. "He wasn’t zigzagging, backward skating defending; he was going forward."
Kuzmenko is well aware of the high standards his coach holds him to and is committed to meeting them. He acknowledges the statistical slump, particularly noting his four-goal tally this year, and remains focused on contributing to the team's success.
When asked about how he's coping mentally with the prolonged goal drought that lasted almost the entire month of November, Kuzmenko responded confidently, dismissing concerns with a smile. "What interesting questions about mentality. It’s an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," he said. "It’s simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it’s simple."
With an eye on improvement, Kuzmenko is looking to build upon his latest performance as the Canucks prepare to face the Calgary Flames on Saturday. The Russian winger's resilience and determination to refine his game will be pivotal as he seeks to rekindle the form that earned him his current contract and contribute meaningfully to his team's endeavors.