WCR1: Edmonton Oilers (P3) vs Los Angeles Kings (P2) - Oilers win 4-2

[FanIn80]

Interesting comments from Boudreau on Kuzmenko:

“He’s done exceptional with the Kings, he’s a really skilled player,” Boudreau said Tuesday. “From the (face-off) circles down, he’s as good as there is handling pucks, a typical Russian sniper. These skilled Russian hockey players, from the circles down are pretty good.”

“I think what happened with him in L.A., they’re counting on him,” Boudreau said. “When he came to Vancouver, he was on the first line, and he played with [Elias] Pettersson. He was an important player on the team, so we counted on him. I think in Calgary he was not a first-line player, they didn’t count on him, in Philadelphia they didn’t count on him

“Now in L.A., he’s a somebody, he’s not just a player playing on the third or fourth line that you want on the power play, and he’s playing like that. He’s playing with that kind of energy and that kind of enthusiasm when I watch him play.”

https://www.nhl.com/news/andrei-kuzm...head-of-game-2

Another case of us not using someone correctly? (and Philly)

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Another case of us not using someone correctly? (and Philly)

And Vancouver?

Seems to me that Kuzmenko is a classic boom-and-bust player. He boomed as a rookie, then busted; boomed again for a few months in Calgary, then busted; busted in Philly; boomed for a short span of time in L.A.

The problem with players like that has always been that when they're not scoring, they're pure liabilities. They don't do anything else well enough to keep their spot in the lineup.

Some CP posters have a history of ragging on Backlund (usually for the first half of every season) because he's not producing offensively, but he always plays strong defensive hockey and always drives possession. You can afford to keep a guy like that in the lineup until his offence heats up. You can't afford to give top-six minutes to a guy like Kuzmenko in the hopes that he may, at some point, start scoring.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

And Vancouver?

Seems to me that Kuzmenko is a classic boom-and-bust player. He boomed as a rookie, then busted; boomed again for a few months in Calgary, then busted; busted in Philly; boomed for a short span of time in L.A.

The problem with players like that has always been that when they're not scoring, they're pure liabilities. They don't do anything else well enough to keep their spot in the lineup.

Some CP posters have a history of ragging on Backlund (usually for the first half of every season) because he's not producing offensively, but he always plays strong defensive hockey and always drives possession. You can afford to keep a guy like that in the lineup until his offence heats up. You can't afford to give top-six minutes to a guy like Kuzmenko in the hopes that he may, at some point, start scoring.

It would be funny if Kuzmenko booms in the playoff, scores a bunch of goal for the Kings then Kings sign him to a big contract then he busts.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

And Vancouver?

No, he mentions in the second paragraph that he used him on the top line with Pettersson. That was his first year when he had 30 or 40 or whatever it was. Tocchet was the one who buried him and then got rid of him.

It's probably more about the coaches than the orgs (unless the org always hires the same style of coach).

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

It would be funny if Kuzmenko booms in the playoff, scores a bunch of goal for the Kings then Oilers sign him to a big contract then he busts.

Even funnier!

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

No, he mentions in the second paragraph that he used him on the top line with Pettersson. That was his first year when he had 30 or 40 or whatever it was. Tocchet was the one who buried him and then got rid of him.

It's probably more about the coaches than the orgs (unless the org always hires the same style of coach).

The point is there is a pattern with the player where he can get very hot but to Jay's point if he isn't scoring, he doesn't contribute much.

I'm a Kuzy fan, and I'm glad he's on one of his rolls in LA. I hope he gets a chance with them next season.

But you have to squint real hard to find fault in the Flames on this one. He's a player that requires very specific situations to be successful.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

No, he mentions in the second paragraph that he used him on the top line with Pettersson. That was his first year when he had 30 or 40 or whatever it was. Tocchet was the one who buried him and then got rid of him.

It's probably more about the coaches than the orgs (unless the org always hires the same style of coach).

Well they missed the playoffs with him on the first line, won the division when bumped down. Boom and bust was a good call ...especially if its boom against the Oilers. I wouldnt want that UFA contract though.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

No, he mentions in the second paragraph that he used him on the top line with Pettersson. That was his first year when he had 30 or 40 or whatever it was. Tocchet was the one who buried him and then got rid of him.

It's probably more about the coaches than the orgs (unless the org always hires the same style of coach).

Frankly that’s an idiotic quote from Beaudreau. He was used correctly. Until he played like crap then he was demoted. When he goes cold in LA, which he will at some point, they bury him too because he’s beyond useless when he’s not producing. And when they do bury him, he’ll look even worse.

Every team he’s played for has used him correctly. When he’s hot, give him ice time. When he’s not, put him on the 4th line or in the press box.

What do you think? That four different organizations got it wrong, not to mention a dozen other teams that would love a guy who can produce at a PPG and could’ve had him for next to nothing, or that LA are somehow miracle workers and cracked the code?

Seems pretty obvious it’s a right place right time scenario. LA had a top line slot and Kuz is on a heater.

Let’s also not forget he went pointless in 7 games in LA.

I also wouldn’t rule out that Kuz knows he was on the verge of being a KHL player if he continued to stink.

[Manhattanboy]

Only one game but compared to some if the other series both LA and EDM look really bad, particularly defence and goaltending.

[YourMother]

Kuzmenko will play his butt off during these playoffs, sign the biggest contract he can, and fade into obscurity while ruining someone’s cap situation for the next 5-6 years. He has all the talent in the world but his level of give-a-crap will never be consistent. Even when he scored 40 goals in Vancouver, Tocchet didn’t like his work ethic. Hopefully he impresses the Oilers enough this series that they are the one to sign him to the anchor contract.

[Erick Estrada]

Let's revisit the Kuzmenko topic after he's settled in on his next contract as there's a pretty clear pattern with the player and right now he's in the same honeymoon phase as he was with the Canucks and Flames.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Only one game but compared to some if the other series both LA and EDM look really bad, particularly defence and goaltending.

Kings were the 2nd best defensive team in the league this year. That 3rd period was not how they usually play. I think they just got too comfortable with the 4-0 lead and took their foot off the gas, which resulted in some sloppy play after the 2nd. Hopefully they learned their lesson.

[Robbob]

Plus they missed how many opportunities of making it a 6-3 game? one of them they even managed to put the put over the net from a shot just outside the Oilers zone. I think both goalies will be better next game.

[Toonage]

A player who does better when he's confident in himself? Wild.

Kuzmenko in LA is no different than Kuzmenko in any other stop. Maybe we can discount Philly where he was there for only a few weeks.

That said, It'd be great if he can keep this up at least for this series.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Kings were the 2nd best defensive team in the league this year. That 3rd period was not how they usually play. I think they just got too comfortable with the 4-0 lead and took their foot off the gas, which resulted in some sloppy play after the 2nd. Hopefully they learned their lesson.

They held them to 2.32 xGF in all situations last game so it's not like that game was a complete defensive disaster either.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The point is there is a pattern with the player where he can get very hot but to Jay's point if he isn't scoring, he doesn't contribute much.

I'm a Kuzy fan, and I'm glad he's on one of his rolls in LA. I hope he gets a chance with them next season.

But you have to squint real hard to find fault in the Flames on this one. He's a player that requires very specific situations to be successful.

I have no evidence, but wonder if he is a train wreck off the ice.

[Toonage]

^ Last summer he posted pics online of his summer vacation and visit to a zoo.

I doubt it.

[chummer]

He's on his 4th team in a relatively short NHL career, that says a lot.

[looooob]

Stauffer (via Staples) hinting that Jeff Skinner's storied playoff career coming to an end in favour of Kane, and Klinberg in for Josh Brown


Stuart Skinner will start, Evander Kane in for Jeff Skinner, Oilers insider suggests | Edmonton Journal

[Sylvanfan]

Kuzmenko noted that he doesn't skate in the offseason as much as other players do and that he takes more time off. This is essentially 3 consecutive years where he started slow and finished well, and it's been a sizable chasm in these last two. My theory is that he may need to re-evaluate how he does his offseason training as as he doesn't seem to be up to NHL speed until the last 30 games of the season.

When he was on the Flames...I said down low around the net, he's a lot like Matthew Tkachuck with his hands and smarts and could take advantage of that on the Power play. At Even strength, he isn't as effective in getting there consistently. Hopefully he's got at least three more games left in him where he's one of the candidates for star of the game. But I won't be stunned if he signs a decent contract and starts slow again next year.