Andrei Kuzmenko of the Vancouver Canucks 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 haul last season, the Russian winger has seen a dip 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 twice as a healthy scratch. Adding to his challenges, he recently sustained a facial injury from a deflected shot by teammate JT Miller during Wednesday's clash with the New York Islanders. Although the injury has resulted in Kuzmenko missing some game time, his return to the lineup is anticipated shortly.
In the recent encounter against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena, Kuzmenko managed to score a solitary goal. The play unfolded as Miller seized a loose puck, drove towards the net, and delivered a pass to Kuzmenko who then fired a wrist shot past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. Despite this effort, the Canucks succumbed to 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 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, which includes Kuzmenko, Ilia Mikheyev, and Elias Pettersson, has been overshadowed by the second-line players in terms of scoring and overall performance in the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, who plays center for the Canucks, has notched up 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists. Mikheyev, on the right wing, has contributed 12 points with seven goals and five assists.
Head Coach's Perspective
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has made it clear that he expects more from Kuzmenko, describing his current season's efforts as just "OK" and emphasizing the need for the winger to "play a little harder." Tocchet relegated Kuzmenko to the bench for consecutive 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 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 delineated specific areas where Kuzmenko needs to improve: intensifying his engagement in puck battles along the boards and hastening his defensive reactions 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 stated. "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, Thursday's goal and Kuzmenko's overall performance did not go unnoticed. Tocchet commended the Russian winger's focused play, particularly in the third period.
"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 moving forward."
Kuzmenko is well aware of the high standards Tocchet has set for him and is committed to improvement. He acknowledges the statistical slump, especially his mere four-goal record this year, and pledges to maintain focus on contributing positively to the team's efforts.
Addressing queries about his mindset during the extended goal drought throughout most 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 eager to build on his latest performance when the Canucks face off against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
The journey of a professional athlete is often strewn with peaks and troughs, and for Andrei Kuzmenko, this season is proving to be a test of resilience and adaptability. Under the scrutiny of a new contract and the expectations that come with it, his response to this challenge could define his career trajectory in the coming years.