Andrei Kuzmenko came over from the KHL to the NHL and signed with the Vancouver Canucks last season. Although the team didn’t make the playoffs, the Russian winger did very well offensively, earning himself a two-year contract with the team at $5.5 million AAV. This hasn’t gone very well in year one of that deal as he isn’t playing with Elias Pettersson and isn’t shooting at a ridiculous mark like he did last season. That shooting percentage was bound to regress, but it hit him hard.
Kuzmenko scored 39 goals and recorded 74 points in 81 games last season. This goal total came from a shooting percentage of 27.3. This season, through 33 games, he has eight goals and 19 points and his shooting percentage is 15.7. That is still a strong shooting percentage compared to the rest of the league. So what is the problem? He has been a healthy scratch on multiple occasions this season. In his place, Nils Hoglander has found his way as a second line winger and has scored more goals than Kuzmenko while being paid $1.1 million AAV.
Kuzmenko Swap?
Kuzmenko is a legit NHL player and shouldn’t be a healthy scratch. The Canucks are just strong and don’t seem to like his play in all areas of the ice. This should lead to a trade. The team already sent Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks to free up space to acquire defensive help in Nikita Zadorov. This could be the second trade that does that. This time the Canucks should actually get something good in return.
Related: 3 Top-6 Forwards That Canucks Should Target at Trade Deadline
Whether another contender has a roster player to swap with the Canucks or there is a team on the rise looking for some winger help for next season as well, I think Vancouver can get a trade done. They have proven that they don’t necessarily need Kuzmenko’s production in the top-six to win games. If the Canucks hold onto him through this season, this conversation will continue in the offseason for sure.
