Kuznetsov on a quest for consistency next season

After an up-and-down first full pro campaign, Calgary's 2020 second-round draft choice plans to reach a new level

Yan Kuznetsov has a succinct assessment of last season’s performance.

“Definitely a lot of up and down,” the Calgary Flames hopeful said during the team’s recent summer prospects camp.

Kuznetsov, the 2020 second-round draft choice (50th overall), collected five goals and 19 points in 63 regular-season games, almost all of those offensive contributions came in the second half, with the AHL Calgary Wranglers.

He also suited up for five playoff games, in which he collected a pair of assists, but — and here is more of the down he talked about — was a healthy scratch in four playoff outings.

“Everyone talks about how playoffs are tougher than the regular season, but when you get to experience it first-hand, it has a better imprint into your head,” Kuznetsov said. “You know how you should prepare yourself, recover and then you know what to expect.

“I expected the season to go more smooth, but I learned a lot of good things,” Kuznetsov added. “It was a good learning experience and now I’m looking forward to the season.”

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound defenseman has reason for optimism, as do the Flames. Kuznetsov is only 21-years-old, and the club believes the defensive-minded blueliner has plenty of upside.

“He’s a developing player,” assistant GM Brad Pascall said. “He’ll continue to get better and take time as it goes, but he moves well. He just needs time, more than anything. It’s about progression.

“We like him to push for a bigger role than he had last year.”

Kuznetsov, who won the 2022 Memorial Cup with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs — along with fellow Flames top prospect Jeremie Poirier — and was named to the tournament all-star team, has the same goals in mind.

“It’s really good they have patience with me and give me time to develop,” said Kuznetsov, who is heading into the final year of his entry-level contract. “It’s important. It’s a hard position to play and it takes a lot of details and a lot of work.”

Hard work he intends to do mainly in Calgary this summer to be prepared as possible when training camps kick off in September.

“One of the things I’m working on in the summer is the mental stuff,” he said. “I have to have more consistency and that’s something we have talked about. I can’t have one game that’s good and two that are bad.”