Andrei Kuzmenko: Powerplay Tsar

[TheScorpion]

Man, what the hell are they gonna do with this guy ...

[SuperMatt18]

They should still stick to the plan of it being a pump and dump.

He keeps this up and you're getting another 1st

[chummer]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Man, what the hell are they gonna do with this guy ...

Good problem to have.

[ForeverFlameFan]

After tonight’s game,

24 points (14 G, 10 A) in 27 games.

^ 16 of those points in the last 9 games.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Man, what the hell are they gonna do with this guy ...

Kind of win-win for us. Either you re-sign him and have a fun player to watch who is also a great interview or you flip him for a haul at the deadline next year.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by chummer

Good problem to have.

Yeah
It’s a great problem to have. About the only bad outcome would be if he let it be known that he wants to go home at the end of this contract

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Man, what the hell are they gonna do with this guy ...

Trade him in the summer lol

[TheScorpion]

Make no mistake, this is awesome. It reminds me of when the Flyers gave up a 2nd to get rid of Gostisbehere. Flames are making out like bandits no matter what.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

They should still stick to the plan of it being a pump and dump.

How do you know that's the plan? Maybe like Sharangovich Conroy really likes the guy and wanted to see if there's a fit.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Keep the pump going next season by feeding him pp time and offensive starts
Maintain optionality to trade him or sign him

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Inferno

How do you know that's the plan? Maybe like Sharangovich Conroy really likes the guy and wanted to see if there's a fit.

I should say that was the rumoured plan that I've heard.

They don't really want to commit long term to a 29 year old winger after next season, but were hoping he'd regain his 40 goal and 70 point form and be a guy they could get another asset for.

[Zary's-Mustache]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Make no mistake, this is awesome. It reminds me of when the Flyers gave up a 2nd to get rid of Gostisbehere. Flames are making out like bandits no matter what.

Well to be fair Gostisbehere is still awful defensively. He is picking up points this year but he still has same issues he had when he was being healthy scratched and then traded.

Honestly don't see him as having any value on a true contender.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Man, what the hell are they gonna do with this guy ...

So, before social media, and before fans decided that draft picks were more important than players, what they did when they found players who could help the team was, they signed them to contracts, so that they could keep playing for the team.

Weird, I know. But I thought it worked.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So, before social media, and before fans decided that draft picks were more important than players, what they did when they found players who could help the team was, they signed them to contracts, so that they could keep playing for the team.

Weird, I know. But I thought it worked.

Well. Sure. But for this team where it is right now, what is different with Kuzmenko and guys like Tanev, Hanifin, and Zadorov? All objectively good players who were eligible to be signed to contracts but were eventually traded for draft picks both because they couldn't come to terms on a deal and they didn't fit the team's window.

I get Kuzmenko is the new toy and he's done a remarkable job since coming over but what's the long play here?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Well. Sure. But for this team where it is right now, what is different with Kuzmenko and guys like Tanev, Hanifin, and Zadorov? All objectively good players who were eligible to be signed to contracts but were eventually traded for draft picks both because they couldn't come to terms on a deal and they didn't fit the team's window.

I get Kuzmenko is the new toy and he's done a remarkable job since coming over but what's the long play here?

There doesn't always have to be a long play. There is also a team to ice each night.

The difference between Kuzmenko and those other guys is that he probably doesn't return much. Also, he is entertaining, and this is an entertainment business. Fans pay thousands of dollars a year to support the team and want to watch something. Kuzmenko provides entertainment, without significantly deterring the rebuild.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Well. Sure. But for this team where it is right now, what is different with Kuzmenko and guys like Tanev, Hanifin, and Zadorov? All objectively good players who were eligible to be signed to contracts but were eventually traded for draft picks both because they couldn't come to terms on a deal and they didn't fit the team's window.

I get Kuzmenko is the new toy and he's done a remarkable job since coming over but what's the long play here?

There’s a cap floor, they have to ice a team, and Kuzmenko is their best offensive player with the puck on his stick by a wide margin.

Someone has to be able to pump guys for us to dump them, and it sure isn’t Huberdeau.

[InternationalVillager]

If Kuzmenko keeps this up into next year, he’s going to return a haul… 1st round pick + prospect. Every team would love to potentially add a 30-35 goal guy at the deadline.

[TheScorpion]

I get all the points being made. I'm not saying to trade Kuzmenko tomorrow. But if you can trade him for a high pick and then sign a similar player in UFA, wouldn't you?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I get all the points being made. I'm not saying to trade Kuzmenko tomorrow. But if you can trade him for a high pick and then sign a similar player in UFA, wouldn't you?

But you can’t sign a similar player in UFA - they’ll be worse, they’ll cost more for longer, and there’s no guarantee they fit with the players you have already.

This player is a 40 goal scorer when not being coached by Rick Tochett.

Kuzmenko isn’t perfect but he works with the players you have under contract, and it seems very unlikely that he will need a prohibitive number of years to retain.

Russian NHLers don’t want to go back to Russia if they can help it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

There’s a cap floor, they have to ice a team, and Kuzmenko is their best offensive player with the puck on his stick by a wide margin.

Someone has to be able to pump guys for us to dump them, and it sure isn’t Huberdeau.

Oddly enough Kuzmenko and Huberdeau have pretty much the same amount of points since Kuzmenko arrived. Kuzmenko 24, Huberdeau 26.

It’s possible to praise Kuzmenko without having to slag other players who’ve produced pretty well lately.