Which version of Andrei Kuzmenko will the Calgary Flames get in 2024-25? And what do they do with him ahead of the trade deadline?

To date, Andrei Kuzmenko's NHL career has been a series of ups and downs. A strong rookie season that put him on the map became a sophomore slump that saw him become a regular healthy scratch. Eventually, he became somewhat of an afterthought as part of a trade that sent him from the Vancouver Canucks to the Calgary Flames for Elias Lindholm. 

His run in Calgary proved the Canucks jumped the gun on the trade, but there are legitimate questions about what type of player he truly is. 

In his rookie season, Kuzmenko scored 39 goals and 74 points in 81 games. Looking to be a goal-scoring threat again, he started to struggle. With just eight goals and 21 points in 43 games, questions about his defensive shortcomings and consistency resulted in an inability to find a place in Rick Tocchet's system. As a team vying for the Pacific Division title, the Canucks ran out of patience. 

When Kuzmenko arrived in Calgary, he landed in a place where the coach and GM wanted to cater to his strengths. “The one thing with Andrei, I think he wants to feel wanted,” Conroy said of Kuzmenko. “He’s an offensive guy. He wants to be put in offensive situations here. He loves the power-play and it sounds like he loves to score goals." Conroy added, “If we can get him on the power-play and get him feeling good … It might be a little bit of an adjustment, but he has a skill set that we just didn’t have.” 

That approach worked. Kuzmenko found the same game he had as a rookie, scoring 25 points in 29 games. His 14 goals were good for a 39-goal pace over 82 games. 

The reality is, that Kuzmenko has incredible potential, but the jury is still out on what he can consistently become.

The big issue is what happens when the player doesn't do the one thing he's really good at. Kuzmenko's game remains highly one-dimensional. His impressive shooting percentage (27.3% last season) will be hard to maintain and while he's skilled around the net, -- especially on the power play -- his career has proven his dynamic weapon can come and go. It's his lack of defensive awareness, poor positioning, and unwillingness to back-check that have limited his ability to grow as a player. 

Calgary will likely have more patience with him than Vancouver did, but Kuzmenko needs to round out his game to secure his future.

Kuzmenko's Contract Situation Makes Things Intriguing

Where things get interesting is Kuzmenko's contract. He was given a two-year deal by the Canucks that ends at the end of this coming season. If he wants to make the same kind of money Vancouver gave him, $5.5 million per season, he needs to do more than just score and his inconsistencies need to go away. 

This season is crucial for Kuzmenko. If he can sustain his scoring and enhance his overall game, he could secure a substantial extension. Alternatively, if he aims to join a contender and explore free agency in 2025, he'll need to make himself an appealing option for other teams. 

For the Flames, a productive Kuzmenko becomes a valuable asset around the NHL Trade Deadline. If they really like him, he's a key long-term piece to their retool.