Canucks Beneath The Microscope: Fitter, targeted Andrei Kuzmenko can be even greater hit

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We’re wanting again on the 2022-23 Vancouver Canucks with a spotlight at present on the intriguing Andrei Kuzmenko. Within the coming weeks, we’ll break down the season and try how participant conditions mission going into 2023-24.

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Andrei Kuzmenko

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Age: 27

Place: Left wing

Profession stats: GP: 81; G: 39; A: 35; Pts: 74

Contract standing: Signed two-year, $11-million US contract extension with Canucks on Jan. 26 that carries annual $5.5-million wage cap hit.

Expiry standing: Unrestricted free agent.

Andrei Kuzmenko has proved fairly the free-agency catch.

He wasn’t the largest fish within the hockey ocean of opportunists final summer time — particularly after 4 seasons within the free-wheeling and defence-be-damned Kontinental Hockey League — however reeling within the intriguing Russian winger was nonetheless depending on baiting the hook with the proper incentives.

In spite of everything, there have been a variety of traces within the water.

Kuzmenko bit on the promise of a world-class metropolis, a group in want of extra offensive punch, a coach who likes an up-tempo sport, and alternative. All that was ready in Vancouver.

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When the Canucks confirmed in July that affected person trolling turned a one-year, $950,000 US dedication to Kuzmenko, and full with incentives, it was a win-win.

The participant received an opportunity to show he might convert a 20-goal season within the KHL into NHL effectiveness. And the membership wasn’t on the long-term hook in case the winger couldn’t discover his sport.

Quick ahead and everyone knows what occurred. 

Kuzmenko turned a training problem and fan favorite. He arrived with talent and swagger and a sport predicated on lengthy shifts, toe-drags and a brief consideration span to his play with out the puck.

He can be scratched and benched and study after which ship. He labored higher in small areas to indicate off these mushy taking pictures arms and gather 39 objectives.

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All that promise was rewarded with a palatable two-year contract extension in January, and it proved a smart funding. Kuzmenko was applauded for adhering to directives.

If he can apply the identical stage of dedication to his health — it’s good, however not NHL good — then he’s going to take his sport to a extra full stage.

How 2022-23 went: Huge objectives, robust love, brilliant future

Kuzmenko’s rookie season featured scoring on opening evening, a hat-trick, league-leading 27.2-per-cent taking pictures accuracy, and wild aim celebrations. He eclipsed the franchise file of 35 objectives by a Canuck within the first NHL season and hit efficiency bonuses to pocket a further $850,000.

All of it got here with some baggage. Kuzmenko can be a wholesome scratch in November underneath Bruce Boudreau’s Cochin watch and be lowered to as little as 10:31 in early April by new bench boss Rick Tocchet. He would common 16:15 per outing.

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A scarcity of shift consciousness led to some robust love from Tocchet.

In early February, he cited 5 gamers who weren’t good in a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers. One was Kuzmenko.

“He wasn’t good tonight, he was spinning all over the place,” burdened Tocchet. “You’ve received to ensure you get the puck in deep, or that you simply’re in good place. You’ll be able to’t be unhealthy in each space, and we had 5 guys who simply weren’t good.”

In early March, Elias Pettersson turned the primary participant from the 2017 NHL draft to hit the 300-point plateau in a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators. He did it in 306 objectives, however didn’t get a variety of assist from his linemates that evening.

“Kuzy turned the puck over thrice in a row, so I simply sat him for a bit,” stated Tocchet. “He understood. He stated: ‘Coach, my unhealthy.’ He received again on the market and had a few probabilities within the third.”

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Kuzmenko would then rating 5 objectives in a four-game span. And that’s the factor in regards to the gregarious and generally wayward winger: He desires suggestions. He desires extra video and on-ice instruction. He desires to be higher. You’ll be able to’t knock that.

How the long run appears: Extra power-play presence?

Kuzmenko was typically a special-teams choice, however nonetheless led the Canucks with 14 power-play objectives regardless of rating fourth in PP1 and PP2 ice time with 243 minutes, 40 seconds.

J.T. Miller (11 power-play objectives) was first at 323:00, Quinn Hughes (two PP objectives) was second at 320:59, and Pettersson (six PP objectives) third at 307:07.

Kuzmenko’s launch was good and it packed velocity and accuracy, however getting it away in a rush via a maze of legs was robust. He proved extra beneficial down low with an uncanny capacity to both deflect pucks or use a fast flick of the wrists to select corners, or do the identical by pouncing on unfastened pucks.

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The Canucks’ energy play has at all times appeared good on paper, however is commonly lowered to both being too cute in searching for the proper go and staying on the perimeter. It completed ranked eleventh at 22.7-per-cent effectivity, however there’s potential for extra.

Kuzmenko is a lovely choice for slap-passes, and a passing choice from down low to search out the open man.

Best strengths: Fast launch options superb accuracy and velocity. Works properly in tight areas.

Best weak point: Play with out the puck. Improved health will enhance pursuit, consciousness.

Is he commerce bait?: Nope. He’s on a really palatable wage and cap hit.

The massive query: Will he regress or impress?

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