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Kuzmenko has been traded again and he's going back to the West Coast

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Mar 7 2025, 5:09 pm
Kuzmenko has been traded again and he's going back to the West Coast
Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

Andrei Kuzmenko’s stint with the Philadelphia Flyers was a very short one.

The 29-year-old is on the move once again, as he has been acquired by the LA Kings in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. He had played well during his short time with the Flyers, scoring two goals and five points in seven games.

Kuzmenko began the 2024-25 season with the Calgary Flames, and there was even speculation that the two sides were considering a contract extension. That wound up being a bullet dodged by the Flames, as he had a dreadful start to the season, registering just four goals and 15 points through 37 games prior to being part of a trade that saw him and Jakob Pelletier head to the Flyers in exchange for Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee.

Though there won’t be a ton of discussion on this move by the Kings, it could really benefit them in the short term. Kuzmenko is a streaky player who has gotten off to hot starts with every team he’s played for.

His rookie season with the Vancouver Canucks saw him register 39 goals and 74 points in 81 games, before falling off in 2023-24 to the point where they dealt him to the Flames. His start in Calgary was impressive as well, as he scored 14 goals and 25 points in 29 outings to close out the season.

Kuzmenko is in the final season of a two-year deal that pays him $5.5 million annually. How he performs during this stint with the Kings will play a huge part in whether or not he is able to earn another NHL contract for the 2025-26 season. If he struggles, there is a strong chance he will return home to Russia to play in the KHL.

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