Ex-Vancouver Canucks winger Kuzmenko has found new life on his third team this season
Andrei Kuzmenko may have finally found an NHL home where he fits.
The Russian winger has bounced around the league since joining the Vancouver Canucks for the 2022-23 season. While he’s clearly talented, issues with defensive responsibility have made finding a consistent role as a contributor difficult at the NHL level.
Kuzmenko has played for three teams this season, going from the Calgary Flames to the Philadelphia Flyers in January before being traded again to the Los Angeles Kings at the deadline.
The Kings acquired Kuzmenko for next to nothing, paying just a 2027 third-round pick to the Flyers in exchange for the talented winger. It seems to have been a good bet by the Kings, as Kuzmenko is playing some of the best hockey of his career.
The sniper has five goals and 11 points in 17 games, including three goals and seven points in his last five contests. He’s playing on the first line alongside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. The trio has found some great chemistry together and is dominating opponents, helping the Kings go 7-3 in their last 10 games.
The Kings have outscored opponents 13-4 at five-on-five with that top line on the ice.
The Kings seem set to face off against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round for the fourth consecutive season. They haven’t won that series in any of the past three years but perhaps have their best chance yet coming up, especially since they’ll likely have the home-ice advantage.
With Kuzmenko and their top line thriving, as well as the Oilers sputtering, the Kings have some hope. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have both been dealing with injuries and the Oilers haven’t looked like the well-oiled machine they have in past years.
Kuzmenko has never played NHL playoff hockey before. Barring an injury, that will change in a few weeks time.
This is the last season of Kuzmenko’s current contract, which costs $5.5 million against the cap. He’ll likely need to take a pay cut on his next deal, but this recent stretch of play has done much for his value moving forward.