Quote:
Originally Posted by Macindoc
Kuzmenko is not the kind of player you build a winning culture around. He's fine as a secondary scorer on a very competitive team, but with the inconsistency of his play, he's not a role model for younger players. If you have a choice between keeping Kuzmenko or keeping Coleman, for example, you keep Coleman, in spite of Kuzmenko's undeniably superior skill. At his age, I don't see a role for Kuzmenko at his age on a rebuilding team, and any contract extension should be a year at most.
In terms of maximizing assets, the Flames are probably best off putting Kuzmenko on PP1 and in a top 6 role next season, then trading him for the best available return at the deadline. Maybe if he's on pace for 30 goals, with 50% retained he gets them a late 1st, or a 2nd and a B prospect.
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How do you know what kind of winning culture he is bringing? I mean, scoring goals is a good indication of being on the right track but only a part of it IMO. Leaders foster culture and gets engrained in the DNA of the team so I would be looking to the Andersson / Coleman / other Veterans to instil good attitude/commitment/buyin etc.