Although not yet official, Russian winger Andrei Kuzmenko and Dan Milstein’s agent committed to the Kanuks on Monday, with the team confirming shortly afterwards. The addition of Kuzmenko is a welcome and certainly interesting development for the Canucks. The signing rules cover Kuzmenko’s agreement on a one-year basic limit of $ 950,000, but allow for performance sign A and B bonuses that could lead to a transfer cap of millions. These terms are still being processed, however, and the contract cannot be formalized until July 13, the day the free office opens. This is a player that Canucks GM Patrik Allvin knows well and has been following for some time. “I have been watching Andrei since the 2014-15 season and I am impressed with his development and improvement,” Alvin told a team press release. “Once the details of the contract are finalized, we look forward to helping him continue to grow as a hockey player.” So who is Kuzmenko? What type of player is he? Where could he fit into the Vancouver squad and what could he mean for other possible moves this summer? The following is a quick overview: WHAT KIND OF PLAYER IS KUZMENKO? He was never selected in the NHL and did not fully graduate from the Russian junior MHL for two years after being eligible for the draft for the first time. It’s a late blossom that was not even close to being a point per game in the KHL until last season, when he finished second in the league scoring 53 points in 45 games and the fourth best rhythm per game from a 25-year-old player in league history. . “Going back three years, he was a good player, not an elite player, and two years ago he took another step forward … and then this year he really popped up,” said Cam Robinson, Film Scouting Director for Elite Prospects . FAN 650. “He was given every opportunity you can imagine. Whether he will get it in Vancouver is another matter, but it will be to put him in a position to succeed, to understand what he can do and to forgive some of these mistakes. and I still get him out there for whatever he wants, 15-17 minutes a night with power play. “ Whichever team acquired Kuzmenko did it for the attack it could bring, along with the relatively cheap and low-risk cap it would have. The Canucks, with about $ 9.6 million in planned space, have options on how to use Kuzmenko and although the idea is to become a top-6 and use power play, reports indicate that the team does not promised him these roles outside the gate, and that he would need to win it. Given the chance to succeed and fail and given him the opportunity and time to adjust to the NHL game, all indications are that he is a player who should give the Cannons boost in attack and flexibility in the starting line-up, as he has constructed at this time. “He’s an elusive skater. He has good speed, he can change gears effectively. He controls the pace and he has some good fakes,” said Robinson. “In the zone at the end of the attack he can put the people in a difficult position with some quick moves. “When the elf is transported into the neutral zone, he plays a little more NHL style where he does not immediately look for the deck. He will first look for the entrance, curl up and then look to embarrass someone. “I would call him a playmaker first and foremost off the edge. He has a decent shot. They used it in many different ways in power play. He was in the right circle, in the left circle, in the net in front, this was the low player he wanted to share. “His ability to see the ice, the patience, to pull the cover and then move it is perhaps the most translatable part of his game.” WHO DOES IT BETTER WITH? Here’s the $ 1 million question and how Canucks management projects will update some of the other choices they have to make this summer (more on that soon). If the Canoks return JT Miller and put him back as center instead of the wing, then there would be three pivots that Kuzmenko could line up next to, among Miller, Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat. By the end of next season, Kuzmenko will probably have taken a look at various combinations. If the Kanuks have this monster with three heads in the middle, maybe Kuzmenko could first emerge as a third-line player next to someone who can better complete his game. “Bo Horvat is a kind of shooting range, so it could be a good extreme playmaking for him,” Robinson said. “Horvat is also more than this heavy-duty chasing style. Kuzmenko is also persistent enough to get loose bolts, especially at the attacking end. I would not call him a heavy player by any means, but he has a bit of that in his game as well. “I’m sure Pettersson and he would do well. It depends on where you want to put him. He ‘s a right-handed player who traditionally plays on the left wing, he can also play on the right side, so maybe if they finish going up JT Miller a nice guy to slip into Petey’s left wing there. “ WHAT IS THE MINUS? With such a small investment either in tenure or in success, there is virtually no risk of putting Kuzmenko in the lineup and seeing what he can do. The only downside may be if Kuzmenko is not placed in a starting line-up where he can succeed or if the coaching staff avoids using him early if Kuzmenko has some defensive disasters to which he may be prone. “Defensively he doesn’t do that much,” Robinson said. “He will stay with his man in the back and that is about it. He will have to play an aggressive role to be effective and contribute. I have a feeling that the organization has more or less its name in an aggressive role.” This production is not undertaken by every Russian striker who comes to the NHL later in his career. Vadim Shipachyov and Nikita Gusev are some recent examples of Russian players who arrived in the NHL with great fanfare and were spotted and then returned to the KHL after a brief and failed move to North America. If that happens with Kuzmenko, the Canucks will hardly burn out of it, unless they make another move to the roster or exchange that Kuzmenko is one of the top six stars. The key for Vancouver and its coaching staff, then, is to put Kuzmenko in a good position, not be intimidated by his first blunders and let him breathe in a role that best suits his game. “Understanding and determining a player’s ability and what he can bring to the table to benefit himself and the team is the No. 1 priority. I guess they have seen a ton of tape and know the player well. ” said Robinson. “If he gets the confidence from the coach and the confidence from the coaches that there will be mistakes, the back check assignments will be lost, that you will continue to bring him out there, keep giving him confidence boosters.” SCOUT ANALYSIS BY IASONAS BOUKALAS: “Kuzmenko brings a set of top-level skills (first six) to the Vancouver Canucks. He has the ability to play in small areas and spin off checks. Although he sometimes chooses his positions, he has extra equipment on the go and can be quick to find open ice in the offensive zone and out of rush Not tall (5-foot-11) but very sturdy (194 lbs) When armored by elves, it is difficult to push the toy. “and give more details to the defensive side of the game, but his skill set wins. Expect him to contribute to the power play.” WHAT OTHER CHANGES CAN THIS SIGNAL LEAD? If Kuzmenko is to hit the top six as a scorer and contribute to power play, he is giving Vancouver many capital gains for just $ 950,000 this season alone. Of course, if he ends up hitting, that percentage will only increase the next off-season, when he becomes eligible for the UFA. This is a discussion for another day. Meanwhile, having someone who is projected as an extremist and who might even start from there, leaves the Canoes in a better position to move on if they choose. “It certainly frees them up now to move a key piece to help another area of ​​the team or to clean up the team space,” Robinson said. If we look at Kuzmenko as a left winger who will win minutes of power play, that seems to leave Tanner Pearson’s $ 3.25 million’s hit no longer necessary. Maybe his name could be added to the list of potential business candidates in Vancouver this summer. But it could also leave Boeser in the commercial spotlight. The pending RFA could go to arbitration this summer or accept a $ 7.5 million one-year fitness offer from the Canucks. Unless there is a cheaper, longer-term deal to complete here, Boeser could be the player who makes the most sense in light of Kuzmenko’s choice. “There is a lot of money that has been committed to the extremes. You have Tanner Pearson, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland, and if you want to include JT Miller as an extremist, whom I still consider first and foremost … that’s a lot of money.” said Thomas Drance of Athletic to Halford and Brough. If Boeser accepted his bid for the qualifiers, it would be worth $ 20 million for the top six wingers. If you put Kuzmenko in the mix, but also Podkolzin and Hoglander, one way to add space to the team – something that this club has been focusing on since the new administration came in – would seem like an obvious area with four players who should have some value throughout the league. “It’s hard not to think that maybe in a way this is a move that gives them some options in terms of managing a departure in an area where …


title: “Who Is The New Canucks Signing Andrey Kuzmenko " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Philip Debroux”


Although not yet official, Russian winger Andrei Kuzmenko and Dan Milstein’s agent committed to the Kanuks on Monday, with the team confirming shortly afterwards. The addition of Kuzmenko is a welcome and certainly interesting development for the Canucks. The signing rules cover Kuzmenko’s agreement on a one-year basic limit of $ 950,000, but allow for performance sign A and B bonuses that could lead to a transfer cap of millions. These terms are still being processed, however, and the contract cannot be formalized until July 13, the day the free office opens. This is a player that Canucks GM Patrik Allvin knows well and has been following for some time. “I have been watching Andrei since the 2014-15 season and I am impressed with his development and improvement,” Alvin told a team press release. “Once the details of the contract are finalized, we look forward to helping him continue to grow as a hockey player.” So who is Kuzmenko? What type of player is he? Where could he fit into the Vancouver squad and what could he mean for other possible moves this summer? The following is a quick overview: WHAT KIND OF PLAYER IS KUZMENKO? He was never selected in the NHL and did not fully graduate from the Russian junior MHL for two years after being eligible for the draft for the first time. It’s a late blossom that was not even close to being a point per game in the KHL until last season, when he finished second in the league scoring 53 points in 45 games and the fourth best rhythm per game from a 25-year-old player in league history. . “Going back three years, he was a good player, not an elite player, and two years ago he took another step forward … and then this year he really popped up,” said Cam Robinson, Film Scouting Director for Elite Prospects . FAN 650. “He was given every opportunity you can imagine. Whether he will get it in Vancouver is another matter, but it will be to put him in a position to succeed, to understand what he can do and to forgive some of these mistakes. and I still get him out there for whatever he wants, 15-17 minutes a night with power play. “ Whichever team acquired Kuzmenko did it for the attack it could bring, along with the relatively cheap and low-risk cap it would have. The Canucks, with about $ 9.6 million in planned space, have options on how to use Kuzmenko and although the idea is to become a top-6 and use power play, reports indicate that the team does not promised him these roles outside the gate, and that he would need to win it. Given the chance to succeed and fail and given him the opportunity and time to adjust to the NHL game, all indications are that he is a player who should give the Cannons boost in attack and flexibility in the starting line-up, as he has constructed at this time. “He’s an elusive skater. He has good speed, he can change gears effectively. He controls the pace and he has some good fakes,” said Robinson. “In the zone at the end of the attack he can put the people in a difficult position with some quick moves. “When the elf is transported into the neutral zone, he plays a little more NHL style where he does not immediately look for the deck. He will first look for the entrance, curl up and then look to embarrass someone. “I would call him a playmaker first and foremost off the edge. He has a decent shot. They used it in many different ways in power play. He was in the right circle, in the left circle, in the net in front, this was the low player he wanted to share. “His ability to see the ice, the patience, to pull the cover and then move it is perhaps the most translatable part of his game.” WHO DOES IT BETTER WITH? Here’s the $ 1 million question and how Canucks management projects will update some of the other choices they have to make this summer (more on that soon). If the Canoks return JT Miller and put him back as center instead of the wing, then there would be three pivots that Kuzmenko could line up next to, among Miller, Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat. By the end of next season, Kuzmenko will probably have taken a look at various combinations. If the Kanuks have this monster with three heads in the middle, maybe Kuzmenko could first emerge as a third-line player next to someone who can better complete his game. “Bo Horvat is a kind of shooting range, so it could be a good extreme playmaking for him,” Robinson said. “Horvat is also more than this heavy-duty chasing style. Kuzmenko is also persistent enough to get loose bolts, especially at the attacking end. I would not call him a heavy player by any means, but he has a bit of that in his game as well. “I’m sure Pettersson and he would do well. It depends on where you want to put him. He ‘s a right-handed player who traditionally plays on the left wing, he can also play on the right side, so maybe if they finish going up JT Miller a nice guy to slip into Petey’s left wing there. “ WHAT IS THE MINUS? With such a small investment either in tenure or in success, there is virtually no risk of putting Kuzmenko in the lineup and seeing what he can do. The only downside may be if Kuzmenko is not placed in a starting line-up where he can succeed or if the coaching staff avoids using him early if Kuzmenko has some defensive disasters to which he may be prone. “Defensively he doesn’t do that much,” Robinson said. “He will stay with his man in the back and that is about it. He will have to play an aggressive role to be effective and contribute. I have a feeling that the organization has more or less its name in an aggressive role.” This production is not undertaken by every Russian striker who comes to the NHL later in his career. Vadim Shipachyov and Nikita Gusev are some recent examples of Russian players who arrived in the NHL with great fanfare and were spotted and then returned to the KHL after a brief and failed move to North America. If that happens with Kuzmenko, the Canucks will hardly burn out of it, unless they make another move to the roster or exchange that Kuzmenko is one of the top six stars. The key for Vancouver and its coaching staff, then, is to put Kuzmenko in a good position, not be intimidated by his first blunders and let him breathe in a role that best suits his game. “Understanding and determining a player’s ability and what he can bring to the table to benefit himself and the team is the No. 1 priority. I guess they have seen a ton of tape and know the player well. ” said Robinson. “If he gets the confidence from the coach and the confidence from the coaches that there will be mistakes, the back check assignments will be lost, that you will continue to bring him out there, keep giving him confidence boosters.” SCOUT ANALYSIS BY IASONAS BOUKALAS: “Kuzmenko brings a set of top-level skills (first six) to the Vancouver Canucks. He has the ability to play in small areas and spin off checks. Although he sometimes chooses his positions, he has extra equipment on the go and can be quick to find open ice in the offensive zone and out of rush Not tall (5-foot-11) but very sturdy (194 lbs) When armored by elves, it is difficult to push the toy. “and give more details to the defensive side of the game, but his skill set wins. Expect him to contribute to the power play.” WHAT OTHER CHANGES CAN THIS SIGNAL LEAD? If Kuzmenko is to hit the top six as a scorer and contribute to power play, he is giving Vancouver many capital gains for just $ 950,000 this season alone. Of course, if he ends up hitting, that percentage will only increase the next off-season, when he becomes eligible for the UFA. This is a discussion for another day. Meanwhile, having someone who is projected as an extremist and who might even start from there, leaves the Canoes in a better position to move on if they choose. “It certainly frees them up now to move a key piece to help another area of ​​the team or to clean up the team space,” Robinson said. If we look at Kuzmenko as a left winger who will win minutes of power play, that seems to leave Tanner Pearson’s $ 3.25 million’s hit no longer necessary. Maybe his name could be added to the list of potential business candidates in Vancouver this summer. But it could also leave Boeser in the commercial spotlight. The pending RFA could go to arbitration this summer or accept a $ 7.5 million one-year fitness offer from the Canucks. Unless there is a cheaper, longer-term deal to complete here, Boeser could be the player who makes the most sense in light of Kuzmenko’s choice. “There is a lot of money that has been committed to the extremes. You have Tanner Pearson, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland, and if you want to include JT Miller as an extremist, whom I still consider first and foremost … that’s a lot of money.” said Thomas Drance of Athletic to Halford and Brough. If Boeser accepted his bid for the qualifiers, it would be worth $ 20 million for the top six wingers. If you put Kuzmenko in the mix, but also Podkolzin and Hoglander, one way to add space to the team – something that this club has been focusing on since the new administration came in – would seem like an obvious area with four players who should have some value throughout the league. “It’s hard not to think that maybe in a way this is a move that gives them some options in terms of managing a departure in an area where …