Andrei Kuzmenko, the Vancouver Canucks winger, has openly acknowledged the hurdles he's encountering in the current NHL season. After a commendable 74-point haul last season, which earned him a lucrative two-year, $11 million contract, Kuzmenko is experiencing a slump in form, with a tally of just 15 points—comprising four goals and 11 assists—in 21 games. This downturn has led to him being benched as a healthy scratch on two occasions.
A recent facial injury has also sidelined Kuzmenko, the result of an errant shot from teammate JT Miller during Wednesday’s clash against the New York Islanders. While the injury isn't severe, it necessitated his omission from the Canucks’ lineup as a precautionary measure, though his return to the ice is imminent.
In their latest outing at Rogers Arena against the Vegas Golden Knights, Kuzmenko managed to score a solitary goal, albeit in a losing effort as the Canucks fell 4-1. The goal came off a play where Miller pounced on a loose puck and set up Kuzmenko, who then fired a wrist shot past the Golden Knights' goaltender Logan Thompson. Despite the personal success, Kuzmenko remained team-focused in his post-game remarks. "It doesn’t matter if I scored … it doesn’t matter if my score doesn’t help the team," he reflected. "I need to be better, this I understand. That’s why I haven’t played (as much) this season."
First Line Underperformance
The Canucks' first line, featuring Kuzmenko, Ilia Mikheyev, and Elias Pettersson, has not lived up to expectations thus far, being overshadowed by the team's second-line players both in scoring prowess and general gameplay. Pettersson, at center, has amassed 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists, while right winger Mikheyev has contributed 12 points through seven goals and five assists.
Coach Tocchet's Perspective
Rick Tocchet, the head coach of the Canucks, has been candid about his desire for Kuzmenko to step up his game, describing his performance this season as "OK" but emphasizing the need for more intensity. Tocchet took decisive action by benching Kuzmenko for back-to-back 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 asserted 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's expectations for Kuzmenko are clear: he wants to see greater tenacity in puck battles along the boards and a swifter defensive transition 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 remarked. "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 team's loss, Kuzmenko's third-period performance in the game against the Golden Knights did not go unnoticed, earning him praise from Tocchet. "If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," Tocchet observed. "He wasn’t zigzagging, backward skating defending; he was going forward." This indicates a focused effort from Kuzmenko to meet the high standards set by his coach.
Kuzmenko himself is cognizant of the improvements he needs to make. He acknowledges the statistical slump, particularly the prolonged drought that saw him go nearly the entire month of November without a goal. However, he remains unfazed and committed to his work ethic. "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."
As the Canucks prepare to face off against the Calgary Flames on Saturday, Kuzmenko is looking to build upon his recent individual success. His dedication to refining his game and contributing more significantly to the team's efforts will be crucial as Vancouver strives to climb the standings in a competitive NHL season.