Should Vancouver Canucks bring back Andrei Kuzmenko in free agency?
It was one of Patrik Allvin’s crowning achievements during his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks.
In his first offseason as general manager, Allvin convinced Andrei Kuzmenko to sign with the Canucks, even though more than half the league was after him.
Signing top Russian free agents doesn’t always work out, but Allvin hit a grand slam during Kuzmenko’s first NHL season.
The Yakutsk, Russia native exploded in 2022-23 for 39 goals and 74 points with the Canucks, largely riding shotgun alongside Elias Pettersson.
As Rick Tocchet took over as Canucks head coach, Kuzmenko’s opportunity dwindled. He was later traded to the Calgary Flames in a deal that saw Elias Lindholm come back to the Canucks.
A lot has changed in Vancouver since the dealt Kuzmenko in January of 2024. Allvin is gone, Tocchet is gone, and most of the roster has turned over.
You couldn’t blame Kuzmenko for feeling bitter about how things transpired in Vancouver, but could the pending unrestricted free agent be open to a reunion with the Canucks in 2026-27? Is it something the Canucks should consider?
Is Kuzmenko still good?
While Kuzmenko is a player who’s run hot and cold throughout his NHL career, he has had success in spurts since leaving Vancouver.
He scored at a 40-goal, 71-point pace in 29 games for the Flames in 2023-24. He then dipped for Calgary in 2024-25, showing a propensity for slipping offensively once again.
Kuzmenko was traded twice in 2024-25, once to the Philadelphia Flyers and shortly thereafter to the Los Angeles Kings. He once again picked up his production with 22 points in 29 games between the two teams. Kuzmenko also had three goals and six points in six playoff games for the Kings last season.
The 6-foot winger’s consistency issues returned in 2025-26, where he had 12 goals and 25 points in 53 games. However, his production was actually better in the second half of the season, where he had 10 goals and 19 points in 30 games, despite largely playing bottom-six minutes.
Although he may frustrate coaches, his skillset is undeniable, even if it only shows up on occasion.
Throughout his four-year NHL career, Kuzmenko has averaged 26 goals and 55 points per 82 games, despite averaging just 15:16 of ice time per contest.
Kuzmenko, Pettersson, and Canucks low-cost risk
There’s an argument that Pettersson hasn’t been the same since Kuzmenko was traded. At the very least, Pettersson’s best career season came when playing alongside Kuzmenko.
The Canucks $11.6 million-centre recorded 39 goals and 102 points in 2022-23, a season in which he spent two-thirds of his five-on-five minutes alongside the Russian winger.
It’s easy to forget, but they were the primary reason to watch the Vancouver Canucks that season.
Are they likely to rekindle that chemistry if they reunite in Vancouver?
It’s unreasonable to expect them to recreate the same kind of magic, considering Pettersson’s drop-off in speed and the fact that Kuzmenko is now 30 years old.
But really, what’s the risk?
Kuzmenko is a free agent, with his contract projection from AFP Analytics pegged at two years, $4 million per season.
The Canucks would be wise to target free agents, like Kuzmenko, to short-term deals in an attempt to see if they can enhance their value for a future trade.
But what’s more valuable for the Canucks, arguably, is resuscitating Pettersson’s value. If Kuzmenko and Pettersson did rediscover some chemistry, would that entice a team to bite on acquiring the Canucks embattled centre?
The best part is, if it doesn’t work out, the risk is pretty low for a Canucks team that’s expected to contend for the best draft lottery odds again in 2027.