Amid heightened expectations following a lucrative two-year, $11 million contract extension, Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko has confronted a challenging season. After an impressive 74-point haul last season, Kuzmenko's production has seen a notable dip, with the Russian athlete amassing just 15 points—comprising four goals and 11 assists—over 21 games.
This downturn in form has led to Kuzmenko being benched twice as a healthy scratch. Compounding his on-ice struggles, he is currently recovering from a facial injury sustained when a shot from teammate JT Miller ricocheted off a defender in Wednesday’s game against the New York Islanders. Although the injury has temporarily sidelined him, Kuzmenko is expected to make a swift return to the lineup.
Kuzmenko's Lone Goal Not Enough
In the recent clash with the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena, Kuzmenko managed to net 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 Canucks fell 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 postgame. "I need to be better, this I understand. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season."
The top line, which features Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has been overshadowed by the team's second line in terms of both scoring and overall impact during the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, the center for the Canucks, boasts an impressive 30 points, including nine goals and 21 assists. Mikheyev, playing right wing, has contributed 12 points with seven goals and five assists.
Head Coach Rick Tocchet's Expectations
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has made it clear that he expects more from Kuzmenko, characterizing his current season performance as "OK" and urging the winger to "play a little harder." This led to Kuzmenko being left out of the lineup 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 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 specified what he requires from Kuzmenko: increased intensity in puck battles along the boards and a quicker 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 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 team's loss, Kuzmenko's goal and improved play in the third period of Thursday's game did not go unnoticed by Tocchet. "If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," the head coach observed. "He wasn't zigzagging, backward skating defending; he was going forward."
Acknowledging the high bar set by his coach, Kuzmenko remains committed to enhancing his game. He is cognizant of the statistical slump, particularly the extended goal drought throughout November, but insists on maintaining focus on team success over individual accolades.
"What interesting questions about mentality. It's an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," Kuzmenko commented with a smile. "It's simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it's simple."
With an eye towards improvement and contributing more significantly to his team's fortunes, Kuzmenko is eager to build upon his latest performance in the upcoming game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
The Canuck's winger's resilience and determination to rebound from his current setback exemplify the professionalism expected within the NHL. As the season progresses, both fans and management will be looking for Kuzmenko to rediscover the form that earned him his current contract and helped propel the Canucks in the previous season.