If Andrei Kuzmenko is not going to play, the Vancouver Canucks need to discover a option to transfer on.
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This will’t go on.
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Andrei Kuzmenko’s scenario is shortly nearing distraction territory.
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The inventive winger was a wholesome scratch for the fifth time this season Thursday and it’s clear that no matter head coach Rick Tocchet needs from Kuzmenko isn’t taking place.
He’s spoken repeatedly concerning the vitality Kuzmenko brings to shifts, about how he does — or doesn’t — forecheck.
Kuzmenko does know tips on how to rating targets. And when he’s been on the ice in his 1.5 seasons in Vancouver, the play has usually been on the offensive finish of the ice.
It’s laborious to disregard that. However the coach is extra fascinated about how Kuzmenko is coping with his particulars. And he’s been discovered wanting.
The usually upbeat Kuzmenko has been very cautious in his dealings with the media of late, whether or not in a gaggle scrum setting, with a bevy of cameras on this face, or in a one-on-one setup.
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Final week, as an example, requested quietly about why he wasn’t discovering the identical success in entrance of the online as final 12 months, he selected his phrases fastidiously. He stated all the proper issues — the NHL is a tough league, he simply must shoot extra, and so on. and so on. — however you would inform, deep down, he’s annoyed. He has concepts of his personal.
Possibly he disagrees with what the coach needs. If that’s the case, he’s not saying so publicly.
He’s labored laborious to get himself into the NHL. He confirmed final 12 months he belongs. Whether or not he is aware of final 12 months a few of his success was a bit fortunate or not is irrelevant; he’s confirmed he can compete within the hardest league on the earth.
It’s turn into clear he’s simply not the proper match for this coach.
The Canucks could be sensible to determine a option to discover a new route. Having a participant within the press field who takes up as a lot cap area as he does isn’t how groups compete for the Stanley Cup.
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They discover a decision, they put their cash on the ice.
However the place to?
That is the brand new dilemma.
The query is, are there different groups on the market that see Kuzmenko and the fashion of participant he’s, on the wage he’s making, and suppose he fits their squad?
There are three groups with considerable cap area, all of whom who may use a participant with Kuzmenko’s offensive instincts: Nashville, Chicago and Buffalo.
Nashville is an intriguing query, although how would GM Barry Trotz really feel a few participant who doesn’t have the two-way instincts he’s lengthy valued?
You have a look at the Nashville roster and you’ll see a defenceman like Dante Fabbro having attraction to the Canucks. Nashville has just a few younger defencemen on the best way within the AHL, who Trotz is alleged to have huge hopes for.
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The opposite shoe
The opposite factor in all that is the mess that the Canucks’ prime two traces instantly are lacking one thing.
As a lot as Phil DiGiuseppe’s hustle early this season impressed the thoughts, you knew the Canucks would at all times want an improve on him.
That was one spot that was at all times going to want filling.
However now, if Kuzmenko isn’t going to be a man with Elias Pettersson, there’s actually two gaps to be crammed now.
And so that you begin to suppose a bit of extra creatively … may Phil Kessel in some way play a job in all this?
The veteran was, admittedly, a spare half in Vegas final 12 months.
He solely performed in 4 playoff video games in VGK’s march to the Stanley Cup, however his common season manufacturing was completely fantastic. Apparently he’s been retaining in form, able to reply the decision.
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As ever, he’s a widely known commodity to the Canucks’ mind belief. Jim Rutherford traded for him in 2015 and he was a playoff star in each of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup campaigns.
Rick Tocchet is aware of him effectively, each from his days in Pittsburgh as an assistant coach, but additionally from his stint as head coach in Arizona, when Kessel was probably the most constant expert ahead Tocchet had at his disposal.
Closing a loop
And at last, a supply reached out to reply the query that was left dangling after Roberto Luongo revealed a month in the past that retiring, reasonably than occurring LTIR, in 2019 wasn’t his selection.
Luongo did advise his agent on the time, Pat Brisson, to name the Canucks and allow them to know he wasn’t going to play anymore and that the Panthers had been going to have him retire formally.
Luongo was very keen to stay out the ultimate three years of his deal on long-term injured reserve and this was made clear to the Canucks. The suggestion was that the Canucks commerce for Luongo’s deal.
However for no matter motive, the Canucks by no means made the decision and as an alternative they had been saddled with a cap recapture penalty.
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