[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.