Andrei Kuzmenko, the Vancouver Canucks winger, is no stranger to the ebb and flow of a professional athlete's performance. After a remarkable 74-point haul last season that earned him a lucrative two-year, $11 million contract, Kuzmenko has encountered a rough patch this season with a less impressive output.
In the current campaign, Kuzmenko has tallied 15 points, consisting of four goals and 11 assists over 21 games. This downturn in productivity has led to him being a healthy scratch twice, signaling a need for introspection and improvement. Adding to his challenges, Kuzmenko is currently recuperating from a facial injury sustained during a recent game against the New York Islanders, where a deflected shot from teammate JT Miller caught him off-guard. While he was sidelined as a precaution, the team expects him back on the ice shortly.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the setbacks, Kuzmenko demonstrated his scoring capabilities in Thursday's clash with the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena. He managed to net a goal after Miller seized a loose puck, drove to the net, and supplied Kuzmenko with a pass, which he converted into a wrist shot past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. However, the effort was not enough to turn the tides, as 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, acknowledging the need for personal betterment. "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, Ilia Mikheyev, and Elias Pettersson, has not matched the second line's contributions in terms of scoring and overall impact during the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, at center, has amassed 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists, while right winger Mikheyev has contributed 12 points through seven goals and five assists.
Coach's Perspective
Rick Tocchet, the head coach of the Canucks, has made his expectations clear: he wants to see more effort and production from Kuzmenko, describing his season's performance so far as just "OK." Tocchet's response was to bench Kuzmenko for consecutive games against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks in late November as a means to prompt a reset for the winger.
"He's got to get his game a little bit more sharpened up," Tocchet expressed on November 27. The coach has been explicit about what he wants from Kuzmenko, including more intensity 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 about just scoring goals. Goal scorers are going to go through slumps," Tocchet added. "The little things matter. That's part of our staples, and he has to understand that's the Bible for us around here."
Tocchet did note a positive shift in Kuzmenko's play during the third period of the game against Vegas, commending his direct approach. "If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," said Tocchet. "He wasn't zigzagging, backward skating defending; he was going forward."
Kuzmenko's Outlook
Kuzmenko himself is cognizant of the high standards set by his coach and is eager to rise to the occasion. He acknowledges the stark contrast between his current four-goal tally and last year's numbers, underscoring his commitment to focus on contributing to the team's success.
When questioned about his mental state amidst a prolonged goal drought that lasted almost the entire month of November, Kuzmenko responded confidently, dismissing any concerns over his mentality. "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."
With a resolve to build upon his latest performance, Kuzmenko is looking ahead to the upcoming game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday. His determination to refine his game and meet the expectations laid out by Coach Tocchet suggests that the Russian winger is poised to turn the tide on his season, one shift at a time.