Kuzmenko isn't what Pittsburgh needs. He's a dump on the Canucks side and doesn't really give Pittsburgh the type of player they need and more importantly he's not an expiring deal and has a decent cap hit himself. If he doesn't work out with Geno/Sid and he certainly doesn't look like a Mike Sullivan guy, that contract will take more resources for Pittsburgh (which they don't have) to move off their 2024-25 roster. Kuzmenko doesn't bring any value in the trade. I wouldn't expect top prospect moving to Pittsburgh but that trade is pretty low value.
As a "this season" replacement, it might be fine. You could honestly put him on any line and find combos that would suffice. I preface that with the assumption that if we are trading Jake, it means we accept we are not playoff-bound. Worst case:
Rakell-Sid-Rust
Smith-Malkin-DOC
Kuzmenko-Eller-Puustinen
Though that third line makes me want to puke. Point being, I think this year it would be fine but I would then encourage them to try to send him out in a separate trade. Maybe someone wants him this year for playoff depth, maybe someone in the off-season will take a chance for a 2nd or so. That would reopen the door to resign Jake on July 1st.
But as I've made my point clear, yeah, Kuzmenko has very little value and at $5.5mil, he teeters on negative value that Vancouver will have to pay to get rid of.
I'm trying to think of the last time a player like Jake was legit available at the TDL. 40g scorer, PPG in the playoffs, and has consistent 1st line performance. It actually might be Kovalchuk as the last time a big-time player like this was available. I think if push comes to shove, a team ponies up the little extra to overpay.
ETA: Maybe Mark Stone? Even though Guentzel blows him away in offensive numbers, Stone was likely viewed as just as valuable potentially.
