Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko is confronting the realities of professional sports: fluctuating performance and heightened expectations. After a previous season that saw him amass an impressive 74 points, earning him a two-year contract valued at $11 million, Kuzmenko has experienced a dip in his production. With just 15 points—four goals and 11 assists—in 21 games, he has found himself benched twice as a healthy scratch, signaling a need for improvement.
Kuzmenko's challenges this season have been compounded by a recent facial injury sustained during Wednesday's game against the New York Islanders. The injury occurred when a shot from teammate JT Miller deflected off another player, striking Kuzmenko. While he was sidelined as a precaution, there is an expectation of his imminent return to the lineup.
Recent Performance
In a recent outing against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena, Kuzmenko managed to score a solitary goal despite the team's 4-1 loss. Miller seized on a loose puck and provided an assist to Kuzmenko, who then fired a wrist shot past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. However, Kuzmenko remained focused on the bigger picture. "It doesn't matter if I scored ... it doesn't matter if my score doesn't help the team," he reflected postgame. "I need to be better, this I understand. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season."
The top line of Kuzmenko, Ilia Mikheyev, and Elias Pettersson has not matched the productivity of their second-line counterparts in terms of scoring and overall play during the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, playing center, has tallied 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists, while right winger Mikheyev has contributed 12 points with seven goals and five assists.
Coaching Expectations
Rick Tocchet, head coach of the Canucks, has been forthright about his expectations for Kuzmenko. Describing the winger's season performance as "OK," Tocchet has called for more effort and commitment on the ice. This culminated in Kuzmenko being benched 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 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 has detailed areas where Kuzmenko needs to exhibit improvement: intensifying his engagement in puck battles along the boards and showing quicker 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 loss, Kuzmenko's goal and overall performance against the Golden Knights did not go unnoticed. Tocchet praised 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 going forward."
Kuzmenko is cognizant of his coach's high standards and is intent on meeting them. He acknowledges the statistical slump, especially the prolonged goal drought throughout November, but remains committed to contributing to the team's success. Addressing questions about his mental state amid the dry spell, Kuzmenko responded confidently, "What interesting questions about mentality. It's an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," he said with a smile. "It's simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it's simple."
As the Canucks prepare to face the Calgary Flames on Saturday, Kuzmenko is poised to build upon his latest performance and deliver on the expectations set before him. The journey ahead may be challenging, but Kuzmenko's resolve seems steadfast, suggesting a potential resurgence in form as the season progresses.