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Confirmed Trade: [LAK/PHI] Andrei Kuzmenko (50% retained) and 2025 7th round pick for 2027 3rd round pick

biturbo19 said:
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.
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Which has always kind of been the thing with the Kings

They have the two way guys to cover for liabilities
They have the possession and puck advancing to get into the ozone, roster full of play drivers
They've very much needed raw finishing, wingers for Kopitar, right handed shots, PP help

I'ts just really funny that Kuzmenko has been the best deadline fit since Gaborik after yeaarrrrs of trying to find solutions... I mean on paper Kovalchuk was this guy perfectly too, but instead of stapling him to Kopitar, they put him on the third line and NET FRONT ON THE POWERPLAY and couldn't understand why he wasn't being a good little checker

It's amazing but oh so strange that they immediately put Kuzmenko there and on PP1...but it's also amazing that they gave him some runway to figure it out...and now it's working like a charm

His slash skating and small-area puckhandling works so, so well with the Kopitar-Kempe cycle game and he doesn't even have to touch the puck until they're in the ozone

I never in a million years would have banked on it working out THIS well even knowing the above, it's been a shock to the system
 
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biturbo19 said:
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.
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It's not just this. Maybe it's not even the most important thing about him. He's a very moody player, one of those types who wholly depend on how they feel. If he feels good and oozes excitement he plays like a sure thing top6 winger, maybe even a top line one. But if something goes wrong, and he loses that excitement, you won't find him anywhere on the ice even if he's technically on it.

Well, California is a place where excitement is pretty natural, especially if you have some money. Maybe it will help him to keep himself in the right mood.
 
Tortorella's stench is all over this one.

There was no problem trading Kuzmenko for value, but this trade was absolutely wretched for the Flyers. Retaining 50% to move up four rounds, three years in the future for a player who is a great depth piece who can move up and fill in on the top 2 lines? That's horrible alone. There were teams who received more value for retaining 25% as an intermediary this trade deadline. The bigger issue here is that this trade effectively made it impossible to trade Ristolainen, who would've had plenty of takers at 50% retention, but this trade and the Laughton trade used up the remaining two retention spots.

Tortorella was absolutely devastated and threw a fit over Laughton being traded and I think this trade was made in order to take Ristolainen off the table to placate Tortorella. Now, Ristolainen is injured and once again in limbo. No excuse for this BS for a supposedly rebuilding team.
 
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Winston Wolf said:
Tortorella's stench is all over this one.

There was no problem trading Kuzmenko for value, but this trade was absolutely wretched for the Flyers. Retaining 50% to move up four rounds, three years in the future for a player who is a great depth piece who can move up and fill in on the top 2 lines? That's horrible alone. There were teams who received more value for retaining 25% as an intermediary this trade deadline. The bigger issue here is that this trade effectively made it impossible to trade Ristolainen, who would've had plenty of takers at 50% retention, but this trade and the Laughton trade used up the remaining two retention spots.

Tortorella was absolutely devastated and threw a fit over Laughton being traded and I think this trade was made in order to take Ristolainen off the table to placate Tortorella. Now, Ristolainen is injured and once again in limbo. No excuse for this BS for a supposedly rebuilding team.
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And I've heard Torts opposed to trading Kuz...
 
Still, the only thing that matters is how will he look in the playoffs, because LA would make the postseason with or without him.

And it looks like they're gonna play Colorado. Kuzmenko can help them to get home advantage, but I doubt it'll be that important in the series.
 
Kshahdoo said:
Still, the only thing that matters is how will he look in the playoffs, because LA would make the postseason with or without him.

And it looks like they're gonna play Colorado. Kuzmenko can help them to get home advantage, but I doubt it'll be that important in the series.
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???

LA starts with Edmonton. Oilers are beaten up but they are not going to lay down and roll over that easy
 
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tade said:
This is awful return for the Flyers, they should have received more for Kuzmenko at 50% retained.
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Yes, as I said when the trade was announced - bad asset management by the Flyers, and also for 2027 draft pick. :facepalm: It's clear they should have gotten more. Stupid.
 
Kshahdoo said:
Ah, it's within divisions not conferences. Or what way does it work? I mean PO seeding?
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Conference winner plays WC2 (Winnipeg - St Louis/ Minnesota)

the other division winner plays WC1 (Vegas - St Louis / Minnesota)

The other two pairs are teams placed 2-3 in their divisions (LA - Edmonton, Colorado - Dallas)
 
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If Kuzmenko helps LA beat the Oilers, it will make the Flyers trade look better. They have Edmontons 1st. Right now that sits at 23 but a 1st round exit will put it in the teens. That level of movement is worth either a 2nd or a 3rd and 4th.
 
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Rebels57 said:
If Kuzmenko helps LA beat the Oilers, it will make the Flyers trade look better. They have Edmontons 1st. Right now that sits at 23 but a 1st round exit will put it in the teens. That level of movement is worth either a 2nd or a 3rd and 4th.
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I believe the draft only is dictated by playoff results for the conference finals and finals, so it wouldn’t matter if they went out in the 1st or 2nd
 
Rebels57 said:
If Kuzmenko helps LA beat the Oilers, it will make the Flyers trade look better. They have Edmontons 1st. Right now that sits at 23 but a 1st round exit will put it in the teens. That level of movement is worth either a 2nd or a 3rd and 4th.
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.....or it could keep them there (even move down) kings are already ahead of them in the standings....
 
Zirakzigil said:
Happy for him. Guy is a gem of a human.
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But also like night and day as a player. Good first season as a Flame, then awful second season. Same thing with Canucks I think. I dont know if it’s a mental thing or something with the teams and how they play, but it’s weird as hell
 
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