BringTheReign
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Kuzmenko looked pretty solid in his debut--the team needs some offensive creativity. Not bad for a 3rd round pick backup plan given Rantanen had no interest in signing in LA.
Confirmed Trade: [LAK/PHI] Andrei Kuzmenko (50% retained) and 2025 7th round pick for 2027 3rd round pick
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kingsfanman
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- Jul 24, 2010
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Fatass
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- Apr 17, 2017
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The 1% of Kuzmenko’s time on ice when he has the puck with space in the offensive zone is great. The other 99% of his time on ice is a disaster. He doesn’t follow any pattern of play. His teammates can’t trust him.
KingsHockey24
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- Aug 1, 2013
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He was never a liability in his first game; if anything he was the guy breaking up plays in the D zone.
10/10 addition so far 1 game in.
FSL KINGS
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SeanMoneyHands
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ponder719
Foers Majeure
Osprey
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- Feb 18, 2005
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To be fair, playing really well (5pts in 7gms) on his 2nd team is probably why he's on his 3rd, since it made him more desirable to a playoff team. If he had stunk in Philly, he'd probably still be there.
New team, and Kuzmenko looks great again...
HabzSauce
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- Jun 10, 2022
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Szechwan
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- Sep 13, 2006
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I'm rooting for this guy to figure it out. He was a ton of fun to watch in Van and you can't teach offensive creativity like that. It's bizarre how his skill seems to come and go by the year though, one second he's an allstar, the next he's AHL fodder. Hope he finds some stability in LA, he seems like a genuinely good dude.
This guy is legitimately just a good sports psychologist away from being a star in the league. Walks in to Vancouver and produces huge. Times get tough and he disappears. Gets traded to Calgary, and after a brief illness produces 21 points in 20 games and is human highlight reel (had 7 multi point games in a 9 game stretch for crying out loud). Then times get tough this year, he disappears before getting traded and traded again, and now he’s back to looking like a huge threat. Someone gets his head right and he turns into an instant high end 1st liner, or he continues to get traded once yearly to reawaken him.
Yeah, another enigmatic Russian with all the talent in the world and some unknown mental quirks that make him... well, enigmatic and not in a good way.
Osprey
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- Feb 18, 2005
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When he had no points in his first 7 games (but still looked good), I was afraid that the line would be split up. Credit to Hiller for not doing that, since the line is really clicking now. It just took a little patience and building of chemistry.
Mr Nogatco
In Nguyen Demarco We Trust
- Apr 3, 2021
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nasty handles. is this the year LA makes it out of the first?
KingsHockey24
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bland
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- Jul 1, 2004
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He's the ideal type of winger for Kopitar. Plays at a deliberate pace before timing his moves into space, then has the skill to make quick plays in tight coverage down low. Anze hasn't had a winger like that since Williams.
And that Kuzmenko goal last night in the clips posted above was all set up by an identical rush earlier in the game where he showed shot to freeze Hellebuyck before a perfect pass to Kopitar for a goal. Later he shows pass then no looks five hole.
And that Kuzmenko goal last night in the clips posted above was all set up by an identical rush earlier in the game where he showed shot to freeze Hellebuyck before a perfect pass to Kopitar for a goal. Later he shows pass then no looks five hole.
The Gr8 Dane
L'harceleur
FlyguyOX
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- Jun 29, 2018
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FlyguyOX
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Raccoon Jesus
Jim Hiller is point shaving games
Dude hasnt' stopped smiling since he got off the plane
I was unaware of his personality and it seems to fit in and be infectious, he immediately became part of a pretty cozy room
I was unaware of his personality and it seems to fit in and be infectious, he immediately became part of a pretty cozy room
Leafs should've traded for Kuzmenko for a 3rd instead of wasting a 1st and a decent prospect for Laughton especially when they needed more scoring rather than a 3C that isn't even playing as a center right now.
biturbo19
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- Jul 13, 2010
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I think the biggest thing with the inconsistency is just...the mode in which he does most of his scoring. He's fantastic around the net area and slot and has those instincts you can't teach with that natural feel for timing and when to jump into open space and free his stick up, and the hands to do some pretty incredible things and finish extremely well in close. But he doesn't really have the tools or skillset to truly drive play and create his own offense for the most part and he's really only at his best when he's within ~10 to 20 feet from the net. So he's always going to be pretty dependent on linemates and how well they're playing and how well they're getting him the puck in scoring opportunities. It's also the sort of offense that is going to yield a higher than average shooting% when everything is clicking...but that type of offense is always going to run hot and cold. Guys who score their goals and produce their points the way he does, are always going to be kinda "streaky".
I guess we'll see if he can sustain things better in LA...but he certainly is poised to do so. He's exactly what they needed in a lot of ways, and seems to be getting the runway to find a fit and take off with it. He's a very flawed player, but if you need a RH shooting net area finisher with ridiculous hands in a phonebooth...he's your guy.
FlyguyOX
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He looked fantastic doing the same things in Philly.
