Unfortunately him being 29 soon is why he will want a long term deal. Once you hit 30 is is significantly harder to get that big contract.
How do people feel about a trade involving Kuzmenko for Kakko+ at the deadline? I think Kakko could be a Sam Bennett like story where he could really benefit from a chance of scenery.
Kuzmenko doesn't really have much leverage right now IMO. He's 29 with just 2 years of NHL experience, he had a great first season (with a ridiculously high shooting %), then in his second he was playing so poorly he was literally given away as a throw in to shed salary because he'd become such a liability. Then here, he started scoring again because we fed him the situations and ice-time he needs to succeed.
He's the kind of guy that needs to play in the right role, in the right system or he'll hurt your team more than he'll help it. Playoff contenders aren't going to throw a larger salary and/or term at him because they will be hesitant to dress him in the playoffs unless he's producing. I don't see why any team would be willing to give him more than 3 years. While older, he's kinda in a similar position to Sharangovich was when we acquired him last summer.
I'd put him in a similar position to Shane Gostisbehere in terms of leverage. He was dumped because he wasn't playing to his cap, and is the kind of player where he is a liability when not producing. Then was at 30 he was a free agent and only able to get a 1 year deal, at a paycut, despite putting up decent points in back to back seasons after being dumped in Arizona. And even after a 3rd decent season in a row, at 31, he only got 3 years, at an even lower salary.