Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko has openly acknowledged the hurdles he's facing in the current NHL season. Despite securing a lucrative two-year deal worth $11 million, thanks to his impressive 74-point haul from the previous campaign, Kuzmenko has seen a noticeable dip in form this year.
Twenty-one games into the season, Kuzmenko has tallied just 15 points, comprising four goals and 11 assists, a tally that has seen him relegated to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on two occasions. Compounding his on-ice struggles is a recent facial injury sustained from a deflected shot by teammate JT Miller during a game against the New York Islanders. While the injury has caused Kuzmenko to miss time in the lineup, he is slated for a return to action shortly.
A Glimmer of Hope
In the Canucks' latest outing at Rogers Arena against the Vegas Golden Knights, Kuzmenko managed to find the back of the net with a crisp wrist shot past goaltender Logan Thompson, courtesy of a setup by Miller who had pounced on a loose puck. Despite this individual success and his goal being the sole consolation in a 4-1 defeat, 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," Kuzmenko reflected after the game. "I need to be better, this I understand. That’s why I haven’t played (as much) this season."
The spotlight has also been on the top line, where Kuzmenko, alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has been overshadowed by the second-line players in terms of scoring prowess and overall impact on the ice. Pettersson, at the center position, 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.
Coach's Constructive Criticism
Rick Tocchet, the head coach of the Canucks, has expressed a desire for Kuzmenko to ramp up his efforts and output. Describing Kuzmenko's performance this season as "OK," Tocchet has emphasized the need for the winger to "play a little harder." This sentiment led to Kuzmenko being benched 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 stated 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 expectations for Kuzmenko, which include increasing his intensity during puck battles along the boards and improving 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 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 tough love, Tocchet acknowledged Kuzmenko's improved play during the third period against the Golden Knights.
"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 is cognizant of the high bar set by his coach and is keen on elevating his game. He acknowledges the statistical slump, particularly his meager four-goal tally this year, but remains committed to contributing positively to the team's fortunes.
Addressing questions about his mentality during a nearly month-long goal drought, Kuzmenko responded with a confident smile, indicating his mental resilience. "What interesting questions about mentality. It’s an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," he said. "It’s simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it’s simple."
With his sights set on the upcoming clash with the Calgary Flames on Saturday, Kuzmenko is poised to build upon his encouraging performance and meet the lofty expectations placed upon him, both by his coach and himself.