Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko is candid about the hurdles he's encountering this season. Despite securing a lucrative two-year, $11 million contract following an impressive 74-point tally last season, Kuzmenko's current performance has seen a downturn.
With a modest 15 points, comprising four goals and 11 assists over 21 games, Kuzmenko has twice been relegated to the bench as a healthy scratch. Adding to his challenges, he's recovering from a facial injury sustained when a shot from teammate JT Miller ricocheted off his face in Wednesday’s game against the New York Islanders. The mishap has temporarily sidelined him from the Canucks' roster, though he is anticipated to make a swift comeback.
In the recent matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena, Kuzmenko managed to score a solitary goal as Miller pounced on a loose puck, delivering a pass that Kuzmenko converted with a sharp wrist shot beyond 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 remarked post-game. "I need to be better; I understand this. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season."
Comparing Line Performances
The Canucks' top line, which features Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has not matched the productivity of their second-line counterparts in terms of scoring and overall play for the first quarter of the NHL season.
Pettersson, who centers for the Canucks, has notched up 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists. On the other hand, right winger Mikheyev has contributed 12 points by netting seven goals and adding five assists.
Head Coach's Perspective
Rick Tocchet, the head coach of the Canucks, expects more vigor and output from Kuzmenko, describing his season's showing as just "OK" and advising him to "play a little harder." Tocchet decided to bench the winger for back-to-back 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 laid out clear expectations for Kuzmenko, emphasizing the need for increased tenacity in puck battles along the boards and swifter defensive transitions in the neutral zone.
"Those are the little things that I value around here. It's not just about scoring goals. Goal scorers are going to experience slumps," Tocchet said. "The little things matter. That's part of our core principles, and he needs to realize that those are non-negotiable."
Kuzmenko's single goal and notable effort in the loss to the Golden Knights have earned him some praise. Tocchet was particularly impressed with the Russian winger's determined play in the third period.
"If you watch his shifts in the third, he was moving from point A to B," Tocchet observed. "There was no zigzagging or backward skating while defending; he was pushing forward."
Kuzmenko himself acknowledges the high standards set by his coach and is intent on meeting them. He is conscious of the statistical slump, especially with his four-goal record this year, and commits to maintaining focus on aiding the team.
The winger also brushed off questions regarding his mindset during the prolonged goal drought that spanned nearly all of November.
"What interesting questions about mentality. It's an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," Kuzmenko responded with a smile. "It's simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it's straightforward."
Looking ahead, Kuzmenko aims to leverage his recent performance as a stepping stone for the upcoming game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.