The 2024-25 season has not gotten off to the start that Calgary Flames forward Andrei Kuzmenko was hoping for.
Though there had been some extension rumours prior to the season getting underway, the general consensus was that Kuzmenko would be traded at some point ahead of the 2025 deadline. With the Flames in the relatively early going of a retooling stage, re-signing Kuzmenko, who is set to become a UFA at season’s end, didn’t seem to make a ton of sense.
Instead, what fans hoped for was to see Kuzmenko start how he finished the 2023-24 season, where, in 29 games as a Flame, he scored 14 goals and 25 points. That’s failed to be the case, as he has found the back of the net just once through 25 outings.
With little other option, head coach Ryan Huska chose to keep Kuzmenko out of the lineup as a healthy scratch on Tuesday versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Sometimes a player just needs to take a step back and catch his breath a little bit. I think Andrei’s in that category right now,” Huska said in regards to the decision.
The Flames wound up winning Tuesday night’s matchup by a 3-0 final, and, as per Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960, appear to be going with the exact same lineup tonight versus the St. Louis Blues, meaning Kuzmenko will sit for a second straight outing.
Calgary sticking with the same lineup tonight vs. St. Louis.
Andrei Kuzmenko, Joel Hanley, and Tyson Barrie working late after optional morning skate. They’ll be healthy scratches.
Dan Vladar starts in net. #Flames
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) December 5, 2024
While getting a breather along with what is surely a wake-up call may be enough to get Kuzmenko going, fans are stuck wondering what will happen if it doesn’t.
At this point, it’s hard to envision Kuzmenko having much trade value. His defensive play has never been a strong suit, and he provides little in terms of physicality. He’s best suited for a top-six role, though that only works if he’s putting the puck in the net.
The hope is that whenever Kuzmenko gets back into the lineup, he’s able to start producing at a level he has proven capable at times throughout his NHL stint. The talent is there, as proven by his 39-goal, 74-point rookie season with the Vancouver Canucks in 2022-23.
Should he rediscover a similar level of production, there is still hope that he can net a decent return come the trade deadline. On the other side of the coin, if he continues to struggle, there’s a chance he could remain a Flame for the remainder of the season.
That would then put into question his NHL future, as he could very well elect to return to the KHL, a league in which he had major success for several years before deciding to head overseas.
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