Andrei Kuzmenko: Powerplay Tsar

[InternationalVillager]

I hope he tears it up and we trade him for a massive haul at the trade deadline.

He's 28 years old and is turning 29 in February.

He should not be a part of this team's future. Maximize asset value should be the plan. Dump heaps of PP time on him.

[Paulie Walnuts]

I would take 2 2nds for him. Unless he is pacing at like 40 plus goals, a 1st it is.

[Sandman]

Kuz is an exciting player, but he's highly specialized and requires the proper handling to be effective- which is why he couldn't play for Tocchet, who expects all his players to play a certain way. He doesn't help defensively, and is one of the slowest players in the league- though he still manages to stickhandle through opposing players. I agree with the above- use him judiciously, give him plenty of time on the PP, and sell him off to the highest bidder at the deadline.

[442scotty]

I’m hoping he signs a reasonable extension and if not i hope he lights it up so we can get a first for him

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Kuz is an exciting player, but he's highly specialized and requires the proper handling to be effective- which is why he couldn't play for Tocchet, who expects all his players to play a certain way. He doesn't help defensively, and is one of the slowest players in the league- though he still manages to stickhandle through opposing players. I agree with the above- use him judiciously, give him plenty of time on the PP, and sell him off to the highest bidder at the deadline.

Ideally, there are at least two playoff-bound teams who believe that what they're lacking most to take them far in the playoffs is a goal scorer.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Ideally, there are at least two playoff-bound teams who believe that what they're lacking most to take them far in the playoffs is a goal scorer.

Someone will take him for their secondary scoring line at $3 million. He will be an effective down the lineup piece for a contender.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Kuzmenko is one of the few guys on the team that makes me say “wow” in a positive way.

I hope they don’t trade him. I like saying wow while I’m watching a game.

The best way to say "wow" frequently would be for the Flames to pick at the very top of the draft and get franchise players.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Kuz is an exciting player, but he's highly specialized and requires the proper handling to be effective- which is why he couldn't play for Tocchet, who expects all his players to play a certain way. He doesn't help defensively, and is one of the slowest players in the league- though he still manages to stickhandle through opposing players. I agree with the above- use him judiciously, give him plenty of time on the PP, and sell him off to the highest bidder at the deadline.

Francis on 960 this morning mentioned how the Flames are still trying to figure out what to do with him. He mentioned that people around the league know exactly what the player brings which is high skill but wildly inconsistent efforts and that he's the type of player that doesn't translate well to the playoffs. He's going to be movable at the deadline but he may not fetch as much as we think because of the fact that he's not the type of player that excels in the playoffs. If he has a really good season and fits in the locker room I wouldn't have an issue with an extension but only if it was in the range of 2-3 years and I really don't know if there are going to be many teams out there offering him a 4 year contract or more given his age and question marks. He seems to be a player that fans like a lot more than GM's.

[Sandman]

Listening to his interview from last week (?), he didn’t strike me as someone who’s exactly a “gym rat” either- like he takes it easy in the summer. His fitness must be passable though I guess, or he would have failed his physical….

[Strange Brew]

I just don't really get the logic of signing Kuzmenko to any term really. You have 4 winger slots on your top 2 lines.

Huberdeau is there by default because of his contract and he really can't play in a 3rd or 4th line role.
You have Sharangovich signed for 6 more years.

Why lock up the 3rd winger for any term? I don't think anyone believes he is a top line player on a contending team.

I don't really care if he gets any kind of return at the deadline, I'd just rather develop some top line players internally. And if you aren't very good in the interim, so what?

[Electricprez]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Listening to his interview from last week (?), he didn’t strike me as someone who’s exactly a “gym rat” either- like he takes it easy in the summer. His fitness must be passable though I guess, or he would have failed his physical….

We fixed Ras. WE CAN FIX HIM!

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I just don't really get the logic of signing Kuzmenko to any term really. You have 4 winger slots on your top 2 lines.

Huberdeau is there by default because of his contract and he really can't play in a 3rd or 4th line role.
You have Sharangovich signed for 6 more years.

Why lock up the 3rd winger for any term? I don't think anyone believes he is a top line player on a contending team.

I don't really care if he gets any kind of return at the deadline, I'd just rather develop some top line players internally. And if you aren't very good in the interim, so what?

Yeah makes zero sense to sign him, he doesn't help in the short term or long term. Keeping would essentially block a deserving young player who put in the work to win a job in camp.

Who cares what the return is, I will take a 3rd over signing someone to a 4-5 year extension at 7M plus when he has no value around the league. Kind of speaks volumes about the player, and why you shouldn't be signing him.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Yeah makes zero sense to sign him, he doesn't help in the short term or long term. Keeping would essentially block a deserving young player who put in the work to win a job in camp.

Who cares what the return is, I will take a 3rd over signing someone to a 4-5 year extension at 7M plus when he has no value around the league. Kind of speaks volumes about the player, and why you shouldn't be signing him.

I agree with some other posters' point about him being entertaining to watch but the overall best move for the Flames is to trade him this season.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by D as in David

I agree with some other posters' point about him being entertaining to watch but the overall best move for the Flames is to trade him this season.

He is entertaining to watch, but he can also be invisible.

Rather build a entertaining team, and we will do that with the young guys.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

He is entertaining to watch, but he can also be invisible.

Rather build an entertaining team, and we will do that with the young guys.

It’s not just that he’s entertaining, he’s productive.

I want to see how he looks, but 17-91-96 is a legit NHL first line.

If Kuzmenko is going gang busters to start the season, you sign him because he has proven to work well with other players who are here for five+ years.

The guy turned a bottom-3 powerplay into a borderline top-10 unit basically on his own.

It’s hard enough for this market to keep talent - if a 40 goal Russian winger wants to stay here at a non prohibitive number, take the W.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

It’s not just that he’s entertaining, he’s productive.

I want to see how he looks, but 17-91-96 is a legit NHL first line.

If Kuzmenko is going gang busters to start the season, you sign him because he has proven to work well with other players who are here for five+ years.

The guy turned a bottom-3 powerplay into a borderline top-10 unit basically on his own.

It’s hard enough for this market to keep talent - if a 40 goal Russian winger wants to stay here at a non prohibitive number, take the W.

...on a legit terrible NHL team.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Go to playoff!

[FBI]

40 goal scorers don’t grow on trees. Tough crowd

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

Narrator: They didn't.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Francis on 960 this morning mentioned how the Flames are still trying to figure out what to do with him. He mentioned that people around the league know exactly what the player brings which is high skill but wildly inconsistent efforts and that he's the type of player that doesn't translate well to the playoffs. He's going to be movable at the deadline but he may not fetch as much as we think because of the fact that he's not the type of player that excels in the playoffs. If he has a really good season and fits in the locker room I wouldn't have an issue with an extension but only if it was in the range of 2-3 years and I really don't know if there are going to be many teams out there offering him a 4 year contract or more given his age and question marks. He seems to be a player that fans like a lot more than GM's.

I also heard (I think it was Steinberg? Maybe it was someone else, like Seravelli?) that the Flames are indeed considering extending Kuzmenko and aren't set by any means on trading him this year by the deadline. It will come down to a comparison between what teams are offering and what they can sign him for.