Just picture Andrei Kuzmenko maintaining this level of performance throughout the entirety of next season.
Andrei Kuzmenko, wearing #96 for the Calgary Flames, was celebrated at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on April 12, 2024, in Anaheim, California.
In a recent match against the Arizona Coyotes, he notched another goal and an assist, bringing his total to 14 goals and 24 points in 27 games since joining the team.
If he could maintain this level of performance for the entire season, he would likely finish with around 40 goals and 70 points, a prospect the Flames would eagerly embrace.
Head coach Ryan Huska praised Kuzmenko’s ability to create opportunities when he’s confident in his game and expressed hope that this consistency will continue in the future.
“So if this is what a comfortable Kuzy looks like, we’ll take that, for sure.”
Whether this is just a hot streak or a sign of things to come, there’s no doubt Kuzmenko is finishing the 2023-24 campaign on a high note.
In his nine outings on Nazem Kadri’s wing, he has racked up nine goals and seven assists. Across the entire NHL, only Auston Matthews and Steven Stamkos have scored more goals over that 18-day span. Only Nikita Kucherov has more total points. That’s elite company.
Kuzmenko scored 39 goals last winter for the Vancouver Canucks, so the scoring prowess — including Friday’s hat-trick in Anaheim — isn’t entirely unexpected.
The Canucks didn’t question his offensive abilities. However, there were concerns about his defensive play and commitment in his own zone, prompting the West Coasters to be eager to unload his contract — with a US$5.5 million cap hit for this season and next — as part of a trade for Elias Lindholm.
