Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko is candid about the hurdles he's facing in the current NHL season. Despite coming off a dazzling 74-point campaign last year, which earned him a lucrative two-year, $11 million contract, Kuzmenko has seen a downturn in his productivity on the ice.
With a modest tally of 15 points, comprising four goals and 11 assists over 21 games, Kuzmenko has found himself benched as a healthy scratch twice. Adding to his woes, a recent facial injury sustained from a deflected shot by teammate JT Miller during Wednesday's game against the New York Islanders has temporarily sidelined him. Although it's a precautionary measure, his return to the lineup is expected imminently.
In the Canucks' latest contest at Rogers Arena against the Vegas Golden Knights, Kuzmenko managed to score a solitary goal. The play unfolded as Miller pounced on a loose puck, drove to the net, and delivered a pass to Kuzmenko, who then fired a wrist shot past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. Despite this effort, the team suffered a 4-1 defeat.
"It doesn't matter if I scored ... it doesn't matter if my score doesn't help the team," Kuzmenko reflected postgame. "I need to be better, this I understand. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season."
Comparative Performance
The Canucks' top line, which includes Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has been overshadowed by their second-line counterparts in scoring and general play throughout the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, the center, has notched 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists. Mikheyev, occupying the right wing, has contributed 12 points with seven goals and five assists.
Head Coach's Perspective
Rick Tocchet, the head coach for the Canucks, has set forth clear expectations for Kuzmenko, describing his season's performance so far as just "OK" and encouraging him to "play a little harder." Tocchet made the decision to bench the winger for back-to-back games against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks towards the end of November.
"He's got to get his game a little bit more sharpened up," Tocchet remarked 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 delineated specific areas where he expects Kuzmenko to improve: engaging with more vigor in puck battles along the boards and responding more swiftly on defense 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 loss to Vegas, Kuzmenko's third-period performance drew praise from Tocchet, who noted a marked improvement in his directness on the ice.
"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."
Kuzmenko himself acknowledges the high standards set by his coach and expresses his commitment to meeting them. He is acutely aware of the statistical slump, particularly the extended goal drought that spanned nearly the entire month of November, yet remains focused on contributing positively to the team's efforts.
"What interesting questions about mentality. It’s an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," Kuzmenko said, addressing inquiries about his mindset with a smile. "It’s simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it’s simple."
Looking ahead, Kuzmenko is determined to build upon his recent goal-scoring performance when the Canucks face off against the Calgary Flames on Saturday. The Russian winger's resolve to elevate his game could be pivotal in turning around both his personal fortunes and those of his team as the season progresses.