Andrei Kuzmenko of the Vancouver Canucks is candid about the hurdles he's encountering this season. Despite a lucrative two-year $11 million contract, which followed an impressive 74-point campaign last year, Kuzmenko's production has seen a notable decline.
The Russian winger has tallied just 15 points, comprising four goals and 11 assists, over 21 games. This downturn in performance led to him being sidelined as a healthy scratch on two occasions. Adding to his challenges, Kuzmenko is currently dealing with a facial injury sustained from a deflected shot by teammate JT Miller during a recent clash with the New York Islanders. The incident has temporarily removed him from the lineup, but expectations are high for his imminent return.
In their latest outing against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena, Kuzmenko managed to score a solitary goal. The play unfolded as Miller seized a loose puck, drove towards the net, and served Kuzmenko a pass that was promptly converted into a 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 reflected post-game. "I need to be better, this I understand. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season."
The Canucks' top line, featuring Kuzmenko alongside Ilia Mikheyev and Elias Pettersson, has not matched the output of its second-line counterparts in both scoring and overall performance throughout the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, operating as center, has amassed 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists. On the other hand, right winger Mikheyev has contributed 12 points through seven goals and five assists.
Head Coach's Perspective
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet is calling for more vigor and productivity from Kuzmenko, describing his current season's efforts as "OK" and challenging him to "play a little harder." Tocchet's response to Kuzmenko's slump included benching the winger for back-to-back 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 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 has set clear expectations for Kuzmenko, emphasizing the need for increased aggression in puck battles along the boards and quicker 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 pointed out. "The little things matter. That's part of our staples and he has to understand that's the Bible for us around here."
Kuzmenko's lone goal and his overall engagement in the third period of Thursday's game have drawn praise from Tocchet. The head coach noted the winger's direct approach during the final stanza.
"If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," Tocchet observed. "He wasn't zigzagging or backward skating defending; he was moving forward."
Acknowledging the high standards set by his coach, Kuzmenko is intent on making strides. He is acutely aware of the concerns surrounding his meager four-goal tally this season and is committed to maintaining focus on contributing to the team's success.
When questioned about his mental state amid a nearly month-long goal drought in November, Kuzmenko responded with optimism. "What interesting questions about mentality. It's an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," he said, smiling. "It's simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it's simple."
With an eye on improvement, Kuzmenko is eager to build upon his recent performance as the Canucks prepare to face off against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.