LATEST | Former Canuck criticizes the Canucks' staff for their handling of Andrei Kuzmenko
Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko has found himself in the press box for a few games this season, most recently on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators.
Being scratched when you're a player of Andrei Kuzmenko's calibre is not easy, especially after putting up 39 goals in his first National Hockey League season in 2022-23.
In a recent interview on Canucks Talk on Sportsnet radio, former Vancouver forward Jannik Hansen felt sympathetic for Andrei Kuzmenko and said that the coaching staff needs to give him a bit of leeway for him to make a mistake during a game and not worry about being benched.
"In and out of the lineup for a player like [Kuzmenko] is never easy. They need the confidence to be successful. They need to feel like they can make mistakes and not get benched." Hansen said.
So far this season, the 27-year-old has only six goals in 29 games, 11 assists and two penalty minutes and is a plus-two. There's no doubt that Kuzmenko needs to be better, and he knows he can be better than he's shown so far this season.
Over the past week, Andrei Kuzmenko's name has popped up in the rumour mill. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the Washington Capitals are among the teams most interested in acquiring the Yakutsk, Russia, native.
At the time of writing this, it's unclear whether or not Andrei Kuzmenko will suit up tonight as the Canucks wrap up their four-game road trip against the Dallas Stars, which is set to get underway at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.
POLL |
Do you think the Canucks will trade Andrei Kuzmenko? |
Yes | 193 | 28.3 % |
No | 324 | 47.5 % |
Unsure | 127 | 18.6 % |
See Results | 38 | 5.6 % |
List of polls |
|
4 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell 'Anxious To Get Going': Rick Tocchet & Conor Garland Open Up On J.T. Millers Leave of Absence from Canucks |
|
6 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell Vancouver Canucks Make Questionable Last Minute Decision to Demote Defenseman Erik Brannstrom From Lineup |
|
7 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Vancouver Canucks Prospects Reach Milestones in AHL Over The Weekend |
|
10 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Vancouver Canucks Make Decision on Max Sasson Less Than 24 Hours After Sending Him to AHL |
|
12 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell Vancouver Canucks Make Decision on Derek Forbort as they Announce Changes to Lineup for Matchup with Blues |
|
13 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell He's Back! - Vancouver Canucks Confirm What All Fans Have Been Waiting to Hear Regarding Thatcher Demko |
|
14 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell Change of Plans - J.T. Miller's Status Confirmed By the Vancouver Canucks |
|
15 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Updated Report Exposes What the Vancouver Canucks Don't Want You to See |
Previously on CanucksDaily