Andrei Kuzmenko is struggling to score and his trade value is suffering as much as he and the Flames are as a result

Calgary Flames winger Andrei Kuzmenko is currently struggling to get into the lineup, never mind score a goal or two — which is far from ideal for both the team and player. Kuzmenko is putting positivity out there but can’t be happy watching games from the press box. The Flames are looking to double dip on Kuzmenko’s abilities, with goals in the short-term and potentially a draft-pick flip at the trade deadline.

At the moment, expect nothing but lowball offers.

Part of the scoring solution is shooting more frequently. That’s obvious. In his 29 games after the Flames picked him up in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks last season, Kuzmenko had 58 shots on goal. He has just 30 through the same number of games this season. In his first game back on Sunday in Vegas after five contests watching as a healthy scratch, Kuzmenko managed zero shots.

The assessment from Flames head coach Ryan Huska on Monday at the Saddledome was that the 28-year-old Russian played “fine.”

It may be a case of things being lost in translation, but it sure sounded on Monday like there was a disconnect between the coaching staff on the messaging between the coach and the player. Kuzmenko knows he needs to shoot more, but doesn’t sound like he’s willing to do it from all angles or positions.

“If I shoot every game maybe three or four shots, dangerous shots, yes, I understand I score,” Kuzmenko told a small group of reporters after an optional skate. “It’s not simple shots because if you shoot simple shots, how many people are going to score? Maybe one person from 100. I don’t like. I like dangerous shots but before a dangerous shot, I need a good position for shot.”

Kuzmenko hasn’t scored since Oct. 15 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Nothing he’s done has seemed to work so far. Waiting for the perfect moment to shoot may be hurting him. Even Alex Ovechkin could use a lucky break once in a while.

“For me, when a guy is struggling to put the puck in the net when that is part of his game, I would revert to shot volume — and that’s where we do push him,” said Huska. “We all want him to shoot more because we all know the type of shot that he does have.”

To be fair, Huska also said it’s more important Kuzmenko is around the puck to put himself into positions he can use his shot.

“The concern comes when he’s not touching it, that’s part of where the issue comes into play,” Huska added. “How do you go about getting the puck more or getting around it more? For me, that’s about skating and making sure you’re competitive to be there on loose pucks — you’re competitive when it’s you and someone else fighting for it — that’s what he needs to focus on, and the shots will come from there.”

The Flames franchise and its diminishing trade asset both hope that’s what happens next.