Andrei Kuzmenko: Powerplay Tsar

[GreenLantern2814]

Since arriving in Calgary, Andrei Kuzmenko has appeared in 24 games.

He has 19 points, with 14 of those coming on the powerplay. He has 10 points in his last six following the win in San Jose.

The man has EIGHT powerplay goals.

Blake Coleman has 3. Sharangovich has 6. Huberdeau (Huberdeau…) has 4(!!!)

Not including tonight’s win, Kuzmenko has just over 60 minutes of time on the PP - he has a GF/60 of 15.24, which is nearly a full five goals better than all of Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Toffoli in 21/22.

His xGF/60 is 10.64, and again it’s better than Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Toffoli in 21/22.

He’s also not nearly as bad defensively as people make him out to be - his 5v5 GA/60 is 2.65 - perfectly respectable. And it’s backed up by an equally respectable xGF/60 of 2.69.

Nice.

The Flames can extend him July 1 if they want to. He won’t cost an arm and a leg - I don’t care how good a year he has, a 29 year old Russian winger with perceived defensive shortcomings isn’t getting a seven year deal.

Whoever they draft isn’t going to be able to come in next October and run the powerplay.

Nobody they have in house is better - that’s blatantly obvious.

Anyone they’d bring in this summer would cost more in terms of assets and likely dollars as well.

An extension doesn’t mean the end of the rebuild by any stretch - but they have to ice a team.

Andrei Kuzmenko is putting up Gaudreau/Tkachuk numbers on the powerplay with Kadri, Weegar, and Huberdeau.

All players who are signed for 5+ years (+Shara).

I think it would be wise for them to bring back both Kuzmenko and Sharangovich and to get it done before the season starts.

4x$6M for Kuz and 5x$6M for Sharky.

This becomes an absolute no brainer if they end up with 2nd overall and the chance to get Demidov.

[TheScorpion]

I wouldn't give Kuzmenko more than two years on his next deal, but he's been really effective since he's arrived in Calgary. I don't think he'll still be around when this team is turning the corner but you could do a lot worse for a skill guy to have around during a retool.

Reminds me a little bit of Hudler.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I wouldn't give Kuzmenko more than two years on his next deal, but he's been really effective since he's arrived in Calgary. I don't think he'll still be around when this team is turning the corner but you could do a lot worse for a skill guy to have around during a retool.

Reminds me a little bit of Hudler.

I would love it if they got him for 2 - maybe they end up splitting our difference and end up at three. Keep the cap hit manageable.

I see your Hudler comparison too - they don’t do it the same way but they’re both veterans who can really play while not being a cornerstone.

Great value players that are tough to come across.

For a team as lacking in skill as the Flames historically are, I just wouldn’t be so quick to user such a talented player out the door.

[Goriders]

Kuzmenko is the real deal

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I wouldn't give Kuzmenko more than two years on his next deal, but he's been really effective since he's arrived in Calgary. I don't think he'll still be around when this team is turning the corner but you could do a lot worse for a skill guy to have around during a retool.

Reminds me a little bit of Hudler.

Don’t take offence…
Glad you’re not the GM.

The guy has been in the league almost 2 years now. Special skill

39 goals and 74 points in year 1.

39. That’s not easy to do.

If the Flames leadership thinks they have figured out what was missing earlier this year, and have it sorted, now is the time to bet on themselves and Kuz.

[TheScorpion]

But like. The dude will be 29 when his current contract is up. What business do the Flames have offering a 29-year-old a long-term contract when they don't currently have anything resembling a core?

This is a clear-cut pump-and-dump situation. The Flames aren't a full Kuzmenko season away from the Cup, or even making the playoffs. They need to be bottoming out.

[tkflames]

Kuzmenko gives me Valeri Bure nostalgia vibes of the young guns era...

[iloveicedhockey]

I'm not sure but I think he might want to go to playoffs, which he won't with us for a little while yet.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

But like. The dude will be 29 when his current contract is up. What business do the Flames have offering a 29-year-old a long-term contract when they don't currently have anything resembling a core?

This is a clear-cut pump-and-dump situation. The Flames aren't a full Kuzmenko season away from the Cup, or even making the playoffs. They need to be bottoming out.

The Flames are most likely not winning the cup in any of our lifetimes. But if they trade Markstrom in the offseason they have $20 million in cap space and a number of decent young prospects and future draft choices. If they use it wisely and can improve the powerplay they could make the playoffs rather easily I think. If their powerplay was any good I think they would have made it this year.

So two paths. It’ll be interesting to see where it goes. I think Kuzmenko is our most skilled forward at this point. You probably should try and keep players like that at some point.

[Erick Estrada]

He's talented but so far as a Flame he's been mostly a powerplay specialist. The powerplay badly needed a boost so he's been a good fit but 5 on 5 play the production hasn't been there. I agree with Scorp in that it he won't accept a 2 year deal, they should ship him off at the trade deadline.

[Jason14h]

If you want to resign him and need to go to 3 years it’s fine we won’t be competing / needing cap in 3 years

However , I’m not sure what it really accomplishes other then makes them team potentially win a few extra games and hurt draft pick Position

This team is no where near playoff calibre. They wont be for a few years baring a miracle goaltending season to sneak in 7/8th and get destroyed

If a team bites of offering quality assets (1st, or 2nd +) I think you jump at it

Assets plus cap space means you have way more flexibility then a 30 year old who was so desired by Vancouver they included him as a cap balancer in a trade with assets

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Goriders

The Flames are most likely not winning the cup in any of our lifetimes. But if they trade Markstrom in the offseason they have $20 million in cap space and a number of decent young prospects and future draft choices. If they use it wisely and can improve the powerplay they could make the playoffs rather easily I think. If their powerplay was any good I think they would have made it this year.

So, with Marky playing, and a very much improved PP these days, the Flames are still losing lots of games.

If Marky is traded, the Flames aren't easily making the playoffs next year. Their defence is very week, their goaltending likely below average. Kuz or no Kuz, this will not be a playoff team. And that's with an improved PP.

[Red_Baron]

At the very least, the owners still need a watchable product unless they are looking to relocate the team. Are any of you willing to pay to watch the equivalent of our opposition from last night? Do we really think that having a team as bad as the sharks is the only path to a stanley cup?

If he is willing to sign for 4 years, you do it.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I really love Kuzmenko, but Scorp is right - pump and dump. If he was 25 or so, I would definitely entertain the notion of re-signing him, but it just doesn't make sense. I doubt that he would want to stay here anyway unless it was for an overpayment - Flames are not going to be a fun environment to play in for a while, even if he is having personal success here.



I hope he lights it up next year to the point he returns a first, but that's probably unlikely.



As for him being a PP specialist, that's ok. Those goals count equally to those scored 5on5. I would bet that if you outplay your opponents 5on5, but lose the special teams battle, you often lose the game. You don't realize how valuable the PP is until your PP is awful and kills your own momentum while breathing life into the opposition.



I also think that having a strong PP helps to keep the other team a bit more honest, sort of like carrying a tough guy. It won't necessarily always stop the shenanigans, but at least it gives you the opportunity to punish the other team a little and make them think twice next time.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Red_Baron

At the very least, the owners still need a watchable product unless they are looking to relocate the team. Are any of you willing to pay to watch the equivalent of our opposition from last night? Do we really think that having a team as bad as the sharks is the only path to a stanley cup?

If he is willing to sign for 4 years, you do it.

Part of the reason the Sharks are bad is because they were handcuffed by some extremely bad long term contracts. Flames have two bad ones in Huberdeau, Kadri and just dodged a bullet with Lindholm suprning their offers. No need to sign a guy like Kuzmenko to 4 years as he's not a building block and you never know when you will need cap space. The guy has been with the Flames for a few months and it's kind of humorous to see how many fans are just fine with locking him up long term based on such a small sample size. That's how teams get in trouble IMO. I'm pretty confident the Flames braintrust will want to see him play out into next season before making any judgements on what to do with him.

[Major Major]

At the very least you wait until mid season, but trading him for something of value seems like a massive win.

Absolutely no reason to be re-upping 30 year olds a year before their contracts are up.

[Bingo]

I think you can let how next year plays out dictate Kuzmenko's future.

I wouldn't extend him this summer.

If he produces again next year you can try and re-sign him to a favourable deal or see what his potential return is at the deadline and make the decision there.

Kuzmenko on a 30 goal season only gets a 3rd but will sign a 3 year deal? Sure, sign him.
Kuzmenko on a 10 goal season and fetches nothing. Don't sign or trade.
Kuzmenko on a 30 goal season and someone is offering 2 2nds? Deal him.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Part of the reason the Sharks are bad is because they were handcuffed by some extremely bad long term contracts. Flames have two bad ones in Huberdeau, Kadri and just dodged a bullet with Lindholm suprning their offers. No need to sign a guy like Kuzmenko to 4 years as he's not a building block and you never know when you will need cap space. The guy has been with the Flames for a few months and it's kind of humorous to see how many fans are just fine with locking him up long term based on such a small sample size. That's how teams get in trouble IMO. I'm pretty confident the Flames braintrust will want to see him play out into next season before making any judgements on what to do with him.

OP said 4 years. Seems like a risk worth taking. Even if he sucks it’s just four years and his flashes of brilliance will give us some entertainment.

[FBI]

What is our PP% since he joined?

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think you can let how next year plays out dictate Kuzmenko's future.

I wouldn't extend him this summer.

If he produces again next year you can try and re-sign him to a favourable deal or see what his potential return is at the deadline and make the decision there.

Kuzmenko on a 30 goal season only gets a 3rd but will sign a 3 year deal? Sure, sign him.
Kuzmenko on a 10 goal season and fetches nothing. Don't sign or trade.
Kuzmenko on a 30 goal season and someone is offering 2 2nds? Deal him.

This is how I've always seen the situation as well. No need to rush into any decision right now or think we know exactly who Kuzmenko is after such a small sample size. Give him minutes and opportunities that play to his strengths, do the same next year and then decide.