Dan Milstein appeared on Sekeres & Price earlier this week and revealed that everybody in the Canucks' organization questioned the Russian's training:
Coming off a 39-goal season, the bar is set high for Kuzmenko, and Tocchet made it clear that his conditioning would be the key to repeating or even improving the records he's set for himself in this past season.
His unusual training methods generated loads of conversations among the analysts, and he was even called out for taking that �'risk'':
His agent, however, had different hopes for his client. He was confident that the Kuzmenkshow had never been in better shape his entire life and that the 39 goals he scored last season were disappointing. Here's how he worded his confidence in one of his top clients:
"I told him he's not your friend... he's in the best shape of his life...he'll be ready to go...only 39 goals...that's a disappointment"
The issue remains whether or not Kuzmenko's overall conditioning will be enough for Rick Tocchet's standards and if he'll be able to replicate the success he's had last year. Even after signing an $11M extension over the next two years, Kuzmenko has the potential to be one of the most cost-efficient players in the NHL, and this signing could have Allvin look like a genius in a year.
POLL | ||
31 AOUT | 1251 ANSWERS LATEST | Andrei Kuzmenko's off-ice endeavours causing a stir: He's being called out and will be under scrutiny Can Kuzmenko repeat and score 40 this year? | ||
Yes | 945 | 75.5 % |
No | 306 | 24.5 % |
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