Andrei Kuzmenko of the Vancouver Canucks is no stranger to the ebbs and flows that come with a professional hockey career. After a standout 74-point season that earned him a lucrative two-year, $11 million contract, the Russian winger has encountered a dip in form, tallying a modest 15 points—comprising four goals and 11 assists—over the course of 21 games. This downturn in production has led to Kuzmenko being a healthy scratch on two occasions, as the team looks to recalibrate its approach.
The challenges have been compounded by a recent facial injury, which occurred when a shot from teammate JT Miller was deflected during a game against the New York Islanders. While not serious enough to keep him out long-term, it necessitated a brief absence from the lineup as a precautionary measure.
Despite these setbacks, Kuzmenko managed to find the back of the net in Thursday's matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena. It was a moment of individual brilliance, as he received a pass from Miller—who had pounced on a loose puck—and fired a wrist shot past goaltender Logan Thompson. However, this lone goal was not enough to prevent a 4-1 defeat for the Canucks.
Kuzmenko's self-assessment post-game was blunt: "It doesn't matter if I scored … it doesn't matter if my score doesn't help the team," he reflected. "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 not matched the output of their second-line counterparts, both in scoring and overall play, during the NHL's first quarter.
Performance Under Scrutiny
Statistics further illustrate the contrast in performance within the team. Pettersson, operating as the center, has accumulated an impressive 30 points, including nine goals and 21 assists. On the other hand, Mikheyev, playing right wing, has contributed 12 points with seven goals and five assists.
Head coach Rick Tocchet has been clear about his expectations for Kuzmenko, describing his contributions so far as "OK" but emphasizing the need for more effort and impact. Tocchet's decision to bench Kuzmenko for consecutive games against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks in late November was a signal for the player to step up his game.
"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's directives for Kuzmenko are specific: increase intensity in puck battles along the boards and improve quickness in defensive transitions 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."
Signs of Improvement
Despite the scrutiny, there were positive takeaways from Kuzmenko's performance against the Golden Knights, particularly his third-period play, which Tocchet praised. "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 expectations placed upon him and expresses a commitment to improvement. He is conscious of the statistical slump, especially considering his mere four-goal tally this year, but remains focused on contributing to the team's success.
Addressing inquiries about his mindset during the extended dry spell in 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 aims to build on his latest performance as the Canucks prepare to face off against the Calgary Flames on Saturday. With a renewed focus and determination, both Kuzmenko and the Canucks hope to turn the tide on what has been a challenging start to the season.