Canucks: Fitter than ever, Andrei Kuzmenko able to tackle the world

Andrei Kuzmenko visited 15 nations this summer season and he introduced his coach together with him.

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In case you are a follower of Andrei Kuzmenko on Instagram, you understand he’s had a busy summer season.

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He has travelled a ton, whipping world wide from Georgia to Venezuela, to Bali then Brazil, to Thailand and Dubai.

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And he has additionally labored out a bunch, recurrently posting updates about his exercises, typically exhibiting off, shirtless, and with a burgeoning six-pack of abs.

His summer season is likely to be unconventional from a conventional hockey participant standpoint, however it’s tied to the core of who he’s, one thing he highlighted in an unique dialog with Postmedia on Wednesday morning on the College of B.C., after taking part in in a really free scrimmage along with his Canucks teammates on the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports activities Centre.

“Final 4 years, each summer season is a number of travelling,” he stated.

On the whole, he has visited a couple of half-dozen nations every summer season.

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This yr, he blew by means of his earlier file of seven.

“And now, it’s 15 nations,” he declared, along with his acquainted large smile. “I prefer it!”

That’s a number of time in airports and airplanes.

“I believe 120 hours of flying,” he guessed.

There was only one factor head coach Rick Tocchet requested of him.

“Tocchet stated you want a coach for gymnasium,” Kuzmenko stated.

And that was an ideal piece of recommendation, the sniper stated. He has by no means been an enormous fan of understanding, however for a purpose acquainted to many — simply going to the gymnasium and following an extended listing of exercises is boring.

He wants engagement, somebody to maintain him sincere, to push him by means of to the top of the exercise.

“So to have a coach, it’s so easy. He says, ‘Let’s go!’ I say, ‘I’m prepared! Let’s go.’ That is so good for me.”

When he received to Bali in July, he organized for 2 coaches to fly in from Russia to assist him along with his on-ice exercises on the Bali Ice Skating Area.

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After which he went to Miami, the place his agent Dan Milstein is predicated, so he might skate with a bigger group of principally Russian gamers in south Florida.

On-ice in Miami, that was good. However off-ice, he was much less satisfied.

“It’s good climate, however for me it’s too scorching. Sure, it’s too scorching. It’s 34 levels! I prefer it in Bali. Man, I had a tricky month. I prefer to surf each morning. I’m going to surf, and after, I’m going to the gymnasium. Lovely climate in Bali. I prefer it. It’s not too scorching. It’s possibly 28, 29 levels. Within the night, it’s 21! I like this.”

Now he’s again in Vancouver and blissful to get issues began.

He had loads of success in 2022-23, his first season within the NHL, scoring 39 objectives.

Whether or not he can repeat that scoring success is on everybody’s thoughts, however not his.

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“Oh, I don’t take into consideration the final season as a result of this final season has completed,” he stated, philosophically. Sure, in fact it issues than he can play within the NHL, however the brand new season means a brand new problem.

He is aware of his general recreation wants to enhance — and he must shoot extra, one thing he stated final season as effectively.

“I must work exhausting each season. This season is (a brand new) season,” he stated. “I perceive the place I could be higher, within the assault zone. Often, for me, one shot within the recreation, two pictures is nice, nevertheless it’s not within the NHL. Often, a ahead wants two or possibly three pictures within the recreation as a result of I’ve a number of moments.”


ROLL CALL — Attendance at Wednesday’s veterans-organized skate at UBC was the very best but, with the likes of Elias Pettersson, Conor Garland and Pius Suter arriving again on the town. Spirits had been excessive all through the scrimmage, which was cut up into two periods with the ice being resurfaced in between and the goalies swapping out. Arturs Silovs and Thatcher Demko stood in for the primary session, whereas Spencer Martin and Nikita Tolopilo performed within the second. … Kuzmenko was delighted by the looks of Pettersson. “Perhaps one of the best centre within the NHL. So, so good.”

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