Andrei Kuzmenko, the Vancouver Canucks' winger, is candid about the hurdles he's encountering this season. Despite securing a lucrative two-year, $11 million contract on the back of an impressive 74-point campaign last year, Kuzmenko's current season performance has seen a noticeable dip.
Twenty-one games into the season, Kuzmenko has tallied just 15 points, comprising four goals and 11 assists. This downturn in production has led to him being benched as a healthy scratch twice. Compounding his on-ice struggles is a recent facial injury sustained from a deflected shot by teammate JT Miller during Wednesday's matchup against the New York Islanders. While the injury sidelined Kuzmenko temporarily, he is expected to make a swift return to the lineup.
A Lone Bright Spot in Defeat
In Thursday's game at Rogers Arena against the Vegas Golden Knights, Kuzmenko managed to find the back of the net. The goal came off a play where Miller took advantage of a loose puck, driving towards the net and setting up Kuzmenko for a wrist shot that sailed past Vegas goalie Logan Thompson. Despite the effort, the Canucks fell short, losing 4-1.
"It doesn't matter if I scored ... it doesn't matter if my score doesn't help the team," Kuzmenko reflected post-game. "I need to be better, this I understand. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season."
The Canucks' top line, featuring Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has been overshadowed by their second-line counterparts in both scoring and overall gameplay through the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, the center, has notched 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists. On the other hand, right winger Mikheyev has contributed 12 points with seven goals and five assists.
Coaching Perspective
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet is calling for more from Kuzmenko, describing his season's efforts as merely "OK" and challenging the winger to "play a little harder." Tocchet's response to Kuzmenko's performance was to bench him 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 made it clear what he expects from Kuzmenko: increased tenacity in puck battles along the boards and faster 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."
Kuzmenko's third-period performance in Thursday's game did not go unnoticed by Tocchet, who commended the Russian winger's direct approach. "If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," Tocchet noted. "He wasn't zigzagging, backward skating defending; he was going forward."
For his part, Kuzmenko acknowledges the high expectations placed upon him and is committed to improving. He is keenly aware of the scrutiny over his four-goal tally this year and is determined to maintain focus on contributing positively to the team's efforts.
Addressing inquiries regarding his mental state amidst a prolonged scoring drought that spanned nearly the entire month of November, Kuzmenko responded with a smile, "What interesting questions about mentality. It's an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me. It's simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it's simple."
Looking ahead, Kuzmenko is set to channel the energy from Thursday's goal into the upcoming game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday, aiming to reignite his scoring touch and live up to the expectations that come with his role on the team.
As the season progresses, the Canucks will be hoping that Kuzmenko's renewed commitment to the details of the game and Tocchet's coaching guidance will translate into a return to form for the talented winger. With the team leaning on its top line for offensive production, Kuzmenko's resurgence could be a pivotal factor in the Canucks' quest for success this season.