Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko is confronting the reality of heightened expectations following his previous season's success. After locking in a two-year deal worth $11 million on the back of an impressive 74-point campaign, Kuzmenko has encountered a slump in form, with just 15 points comprising four goals and 11 assists across 21 games this season.
His reduced productivity has seen him relegated to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on two occasions. Compounding his challenges, Kuzmenko is currently recovering from a facial injury sustained from a deflected shot by teammate JT Miller during Wednesday's clash against the New York Islanders. The incident has temporarily sidelined him from the Canucks' roster as a precautionary measure, though his return to the ice is anticipated shortly.
In the recent matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena, Kuzmenko managed to score a solitary goal after Miller seized a loose puck, drove towards the net, and set up Kuzmenko for a wrist shot that sailed past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. Despite this effort, the Canucks fell 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 reflected post-game. "I need to be better, this I understand. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season."
A Comparison of Lines
The top line featuring Kuzmenko, Ilia Mikheyev, and Elias Pettersson has been overshadowed by their second-line counterparts in both scoring and overall performance during the first quarter of the NHL season. Pettersson, at center, has tallied 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists. Mikheyev, playing right wing, has contributed 12 points through seven goals and five assists.
Coach's Perspective
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has made it clear that he expects more from Kuzmenko, describing his season's performance thus far as just "OK" and noting the need for the player to "play a little harder." This sentiment was underscored when Tocchet benched Kuzmenko for back-to-back games against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks towards the end of November.
"He's got to get his game a little bit more sharpened up," Tocchet asserted on November 27. "It's not about last year, it's about this year for us. And he's a guy that needed a reset."
Tocchet has delineated specific areas where he wants to see improvement from Kuzmenko, such as increased aggression in puck battles along the boards and faster 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 explained. "The little things matter. That's part of our staples and he has to understand that's the Bible for us around here."
Despite the loss, Thursday's goal and Kuzmenko's improved play, particularly in the third period, did not go unnoticed by Tocchet.
"If you watch his shifts in the third, he was going A to B," Tocchet praised. "He wasn't zigzagging, backward skating defending; he was moving forward."
Kuzmenko himself is keenly aware of his coach's high standards and is committed to enhancing his performance. He acknowledges the concerns surrounding his tally of only four goals this season and remains dedicated to contributing positively to the team's efforts.
Addressing questions regarding his mental state amidst a prolonged goal drought that lasted nearly all of November, Kuzmenko responded with equanimity and a smile. "What interesting questions about mentality. It's an interesting moment for mentality, for personality, for me," he said. "It's simple with the hard work mentality, work in the gym, it's simple."
Looking ahead, Kuzmenko is determined to capitalize on his latest performance as the Canucks prepare to take on the Calgary Flames on Saturday.