Amid the high expectations set by his previous season's performance, Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko is confronting a challenging phase this year. After an impressive 74-point haul last season, Kuzmenko secured a lucrative two-year deal worth $11 million. However, the Russian athlete's production has seen a downturn in recent games, with only 15 points—comprising four goals and 11 assists—in 21 games.
Kuzmenko's struggles have not gone unnoticed, resulting in him being sidelined as a healthy scratch on two occasions. Compounding his challenges, he is currently recovering from a facial injury sustained during Wednesday’s game against the New York Islanders—a mishap involving a deflected shot from teammate JT Miller. The injury has temporarily sidelined him from the Canucks’ roster, though he is expected to make a return shortly.
A Glimmer of Hope
In the face of these setbacks, Kuzmenko managed to find the back of the net in Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena. Despite the team's 4-1 loss, Kuzmenko scored a goal off an assist from Miller, who had pounced on a loose puck and set up Kuzmenko for a wrist shot that beat Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. Yet, Kuzmenko remained self-critical after the game, emphasizing the need for personal improvement.
"It doesn’t matter if I scored … it doesn’t matter if my score doesn’t help the team," Kuzmenko remarked post-game. "I need to be better, this I understand. That’s why I haven’t played (as much) this season."
The top line, which includes Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has found itself overshadowed by the second-line players in terms of scoring and overall play throughout the first quarter of the NHL season. While Pettersson has racked up 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists, Mikheyev has contributed 12 points with seven goals and five assists.
Coach's Corner
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has been vocal about his expectations for Kuzmenko, describing his performance this season as "OK" but insisting that the winger needs to "play a little harder." This sentiment led to Kuzmenko being benched for consecutive games against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks in late November.
"He’s got to get his game a little bit more sharpened up," Tocchet expressed on November 27. "It’s not about last year, it’s about this year for us. And he’s a guy that needed a reset."
Tocchet has laid out clear benchmarks for Kuzmenko, underscoring the importance of increased intensity in puck battles along the boards and quicker 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 explained. "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 rough patch, Kuzmenko's third-period performance against the Golden Knights earned him praise from Tocchet, who was pleased with his focused play. "If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," Tocchet said. "He wasn’t zigzagging, backward skating defending; he was going forward."
Mindset Matters
Kuzmenko is well aware of the high standards set by his coach and is eager to meet them. He acknowledges the statistical slump, particularly his four-goal tally this year, and remains committed to contributing to the team's success. When questioned about his mentality during the extended goal drought that spanned nearly the entire month of November, Kuzmenko responded with confidence.
"What interesting questions about mentality. It’s an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," Kuzmenko said, smiling. "It’s simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it’s simple."
With determination to improve, Kuzmenko looks to build upon his recent goal-scoring performance when the Canucks take on the Calgary Flames on Saturday. His resilience and commitment to refining his game will be crucial as he seeks to regain his form and contribute more significantly to the team's efforts on the ice.