Friedman Believes Capitals Interested In Canucks’ Kuzmenko

[AlwaysACanuckFan]

On 12/20/2023 at 9:01 AM, Mando27 said:

Still don't like the idea of trading Kuz when he is trying to work things out. Unless the Canucks get an offer they can't refuse I don't see the rush.

Maybe there's the possibility Kuz doesn't want to be here. If that's the case then we take the best offer. 

[AlwaysACanuckFan]

On 12/20/2023 at 9:09 AM, Rekker said:

I could totally see this and makes sense. I would prefer not to give up on Kuz, but if Tocchet doesn't want him, is what it is.

Maybe Kuz isn't a fan of Tocchet 

[Tower102]

29 minutes ago, AlwaysACanuckFan said:

Maybe there's the possibility Kuz doesn't want to be here. If that's the case then we take the best offer. 

Based on the comments of his agent that is certainly not the case.

 

[MeanSeanBean]

I took a ton of heat for saying we should be trading him last TDL and not resigning him. Kuzzy can still obviously turn this around, but that's not looking like such a hot take anymore.

[Hammertime]

7 minutes ago, MeanSeanBean said:

I took a ton of heat for saying we should be trading him last TDL and not resigning him. Kuzzy can still obviously turn this around, but that's not looking like such a hot take anymore.

[Hammertime]

Other than Hendrix Lappiere I can't think of anything I'd want from the Caps

[Elias Pettersson]

13 minutes ago, Hammertime said:

Other than Hendrix Lappiere I can't think of anything I'd want from the Caps

We can take their 1st round pick and then Allvin can flip it for a player he wants from another team ala the Horvat trade. Washington’s 1st plus our 2025 2nd for Pavel Buchnevich please. 
 

Cap wise, another team like Chicago might have to be involved to take Anthony Mantha to make the numbers work. 

[Rekker]

1 hour ago, AlwaysACanuckFan said:

Maybe Kuz isn't a fan of Tocchet 

Maybe, but if he's a fan of winning, better man up and get on board. 

[TheGuardian]

On 12/20/2023 at 8:04 AM, Sophomore Jinx said:

Friedman Believes Capitals Interested In Canucks’ Kuzmenko

Story by Jesse Courville-Lynch, The Hockey Writers

 

Friedman Believes Capitals Interested In Canucks’ Kuzmenko© Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

 

The Washington Capitals have been surprisingly strong to start their 2023-24 campaign. With a 15-9-4 record through 28 games, they currently sit fifth in the Metropolitan Division and three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes, but have played four fewer games. Their captain, Alex Ovechkin, has struggled offensively this season for the first time in his career to start a new season, but the team seems to be rallying around him and has been successful even with his shocking lack of production.

 

While the team hasn’t been great offensively, it seems as though they have recently been looking for ways to change that and be a contender this season after missing the playoffs and winding up with the eighth overall selection in the draft. While the core of Ovechkin, John Carlson, and Tom Wilson is aging, and with Nicklas Backstrom unfortunately out for the season with a major injury, the Capitals have proven they don’t want to sit back and let another season go to waste, but they’d rather push for their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.

One player who has surprisingly been in and out of the lineup on his team is Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko. He has been a healthy scratch several times this season and seems to be a player that head coach Rick Tocchet isn’t a fan of. Kuzmenko has six goals and has added 11 assists for 17 points through 29 games this season which is quite good for a player who has spent the majority of his time in the bottom six, but his play is still something the Canucks don’t seem to like.

 

If the Canucks don’t want to play him, that’s no issue for a Capitals team who will be looking to bolster their roster come the trade deadline. A connection between the two teams seems to have been made by Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman. But while he mentioned the Capitals had interest in Kuzmenko, he was quick to point out there may not be a fit due to salary cap issues and the Capitals’ lack of assets. Here is what he had to say about the Capitals and their potential interest in Kuzmenko:

“I’m just curious to see how you fix this. I think Washington is a team that’s looked around at Kuzmenko but I just don’t see a trade match there. It’s not like the Canucks are going to take Anthony Mantha. I just don’t know where this is going to sort itself out aside from the fact that you can’t have a guy making that salary playing 12 minutes a night. It doesn’t work in today’s cap system. We’ll see where it goes.”

– Elliotte Friedman (The Jeff Marek Show)

Friedman likely mentions Capitals’ forward Anthony Mantha for salary cap reasons, but the Canucks aren’t believed to have any interest in him. However, the Capitals have seemingly been happy with Mantha’s play as of late and don’t seem to be in a rush to move him unless they see an opportunity to upgrade the roster. Fortunately for the Capitals, they have plenty of time to decide what they’re going to do and who they’re going to target at the trade deadline, but it doesn’t seem like there is much of a chance Kuzmenko gets traded to the Capitals.

 

Hypothetical Kuzmenko Fit With The Capitals

While there doesn’t seem to be much of a chance of a Kuzmenko trade happening any time soon and almost no chance he becomes a Capital, let’s take a hypothetical look at where he would fit if the Capitals were to somehow pull off a monster trade with the Canucks to bring him in. Under the assumption that Mantha would have to be traded if Kuzmenko is brought in due to the money issues, Kuzmenko could slot into the second line alongside Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael.

While Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has been playing on the third line since he was a healthy scratch just a few games ago, his confidence and overall play could be rejuvenated playing alongside a fellow Russian player in Kuzmenko. Moving Kuznetsov up to the second line could be an option, but there is also the idea of spreading out the firepower and leaving him in the bottom six, which might be beneficial for the Capitals as a team.

 

Kuzmenko’s strength is his ability to produce offensively. The Capitals haven’t been the worst team in the NHL, but they have struggled offensively on some nights. Adding a guy like Kuzmenko who is coming off of a 74-point campaign in his first season in the NHL and may simply need a change of scenery could be huge for the Capitals, and he could become a difference-maker in the team’s quest for a Stanley Cup.

The only issue with this is the Canucks are also vying for a Stanley Cup this season. While Kuzmenko might be in Tocchet’s dog house because of internal issues with the team, whatever those may be, he is still a massive part of the Canucks and is a player who could help lead them to success in the postseason. With two contending teams potentially being trade partners, it becomes even harder to make a deal as neither one wants to give the other a better chance of winning, thus likely making any Kuzmenko deal to Washington close to impossible.

 

The Capitals will be buyers come the trade deadline if they keep playing well up until that point, but they will likely have to look in another direction as far as trying to improve their roster. Hopefully, they will make the right moves and have a Stanley Cup-contending team late in the season, and a roster that can help lead the Capitals to their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.

 

 

The Canucks have to be careful.

 

This is a sophomore player, in his second year in the league on NHL ice.

He has never player 4th line grunt hockey.

 

Kuzmenko chose Vancouver twice to be here, even with the team in turmoil he could have gone to any team, he CHOSE Vancouver.
Then he CHOSE to sign a cap friendly contract with Vancouver a second time, twice. While Boeser and Garland asked out.

 

What does it say about the Canucks that they sign a player to a cap friendly contract, a player that beyond all reason chose the Canucks only to kick him to the curb, slander him and do all they can to get him to ask to be traded?

 

You think the agents of FA players won't have this little gem in negotiations. HELLO, to NMC clauses. What high level free agent would want to go to a team that does or allows that. They don't even repute anything the media say which is indirectly supporting this witch hunt/burning.

 

Vancouver fans are showing how two faced they are;

 

Look up posts last year about Kuzmenko, how good, how lucky the team was, how this year could be even better with Mikheyev on that line, how Pettersson might hit 120 points. 

How Boeser would not be missed, Kuz had the better contract scored more, wanted to be here vs Boeser wanting out.

Fans, posters and media were all Kuzmenko, if not groupies then most were supporters
 

If he was 25 yr old and in his second year after torching the rookie race, which he would have if eligible last year, the media would be preaching patience.

 

Instead they have gone back to being the hidden messenger of a well spoken coach.

Constantly promoting how fair he is, how he benched once Miller two months ago for 3 shifts in the third period, how his "staples" need to be met but never really asking what those staples are or not using positive stats, which there are more of despite trying to play as a role player grunt, the media doesn't mention how many great passes he has to 4th line players that aren't scoring, whose main job is to be NOT scored on.

 

Horvat scored his way off the team, hopefully Boeser can too.

 

The CAP space difference is needed to diminish the OEL buyout increase. Kuzmenko didn't forget how to score and his stats are all very close to Boeser's but he isn't playing with a top NHL player.

 

Boeser for Mantha? BB for Athanasiou? BB for Roslovic?, BB for Vrana? Get the cap space, the goals are sitting there waiting to be scored with a player that really wanted to be here 

[BPA]

12 minutes ago, TheGuardian said:

The Canucks have to be careful.

 

This is a sophomore player, in his second year in the league on NHL ice.

He has never player 4th line grunt hockey.

 

Kuzmenko chose Vancouver twice to be here, even with the team in turmoil he could have gone to any team, he CHOSE Vancouver.
Then he CHOSE to sign a cap friendly contract with Vancouver a second time, twice. While Boeser and Garland asked out.

 

What does it say about the Canucks that they sign a player to a cap friendly contract, a player that beyond all reason chose the Canucks only to kick him to the curb, slander him and do all they can to get him to ask to be traded?

 

You think the agents of FA players won't have this little gem in negotiations. HELLO, to NMC clauses. What high level free agent would want to go to a team that does or allows that. They don't even repute anything the media say which is indirectly supporting this witch hunt/burning.

 

Vancouver fans are showing how two faced they are;

 

Look up posts last year about Kuzmenko, how good, how lucky the team was, how this year could be even better with Mikheyev on that line, how Pettersson might hit 120 points. 

How Boeser would not be missed, Kuz had the better contract scored more, wanted to be here vs Boeser wanting out.

Fans, posters and media were all Kuzmenko, if not groupies then most were supporters
 

If he was 25 yr old and in his second year after torching the rookie race, which he would have if eligible last year, the media would be preaching patience.

 

Instead they have gone back to being the hidden messenger of a well spoken coach.

Constantly promoting how fair he is, how he benched once Miller two months ago for 3 shifts in the third period, how his "staples" need to be met but never really asking what those staples are or not using positive stats, which there are more of despite trying to play as a role player grunt, the media doesn't mention how many great passes he has to 4th line players that aren't scoring, whose main job is to be NOT scored on.

 

Horvat scored his way off the team, hopefully Boeser can too.

 

The CAP space difference is needed to diminish the OEL buyout increase. Kuzmenko didn't forget how to score and his stats are all very close to Boeser's but he isn't playing with a top NHL player.

 

Boeser for Mantha? BB for Athanasiou? BB for Roslovic?, BB for Vrana? Get the cap space, the goals are sitting there waiting to be scored with a player that really wanted to be here 

Are you seriously wanting to trade Boeser when he is finally having success?  He worked hard in the offseason (skipped the Beauty League) and seems fully committed to the Tocchet system.  And not cheating the zone to get a scoring opportunity.

 

Compared that to Kuz who apparently didn’t train all that hard in the summer.  Supposedly vacationing in Bali (I think).  Kuz needs to work on the fundamentals that Tocchet wants.  I’m guessing he’ll get out back onto EP line at some point.  The grinders on EP line are having limited success.  But it’s up to Kuz to prove he belongs there.

[MeanSeanBean]

1 hour ago, Elias Pettersson said:

We can take their 1st round pick and then Allvin can flip it for a player he wants from another team ala the Horvat trade. Washington’s 1st plus our 2025 2nd for Pavel Buchnevich please. 
 

Cap wise, another team like Chicago might have to be involved to take Anthony Mantha to make the numbers work. 

You think Kuzmeko is worth a first? Guy is getting scratched regularly and now has term and money. I was hopefully for a first for him last year when he was on pace for 40 goals and at near league minimum. Any trade with Kuzmeko now is money in, money out, for a player who's likely also struggling. Not a high draft pick.

Edited December 22, 2023 by MeanSeanBean

[Rekker]

Time to try Kuz back with EP. They were great together last year so give them some time together. Not one period, some time.

[BPA]

1 minute ago, MeanSeanBean said:

You think Kuzmeko is worth a first? Guy is getting scratched regularly and now has term and money. I was hopefully for a first for him last year when he was on pace for 40 goals and at near league minimum. Any trade with Kuzmeko now is money in, money out, for a player who's likely also struggling. Not a high draft pick.

What about Jeannot from TBL?  
 

TBL paid a boatload for the guy and doesn’t seem to working well in their system.  Not sure if he’s top 6 material though.

 

Kuz might have some success in the TBL run and gun style.

 

Kuz for Jeannot + pick?  
 

Canucks would also benefit with about $3M in cap savings too.

 

[BPA]

4 minutes ago, Rekker said:

Time to try Kuz back with EP. They were great together last year so give them some time together. Not one period, some time.

Yeah.  Think play Kuz with EP in these upcoming 3 game home stand.  He needs to light them up and get his groove back.

[MeanSeanBean]

5 minutes ago, BPA said:

What about Jeannot from TBL?  
 

TBL paid a boatload for the guy and doesn’t seem to working well in their system.  Not sure if he’s top 6 material though.

 

Kuz might have some success in the TBL run and gun style.

 

Kuz for Jeannot + pick?  
 

Canucks would also benefit with about $3M in cap savings too.

 

I think Jeannot has more value by a mile right now. Kuzmeko may have a few more points, but has, no joke, 115 less hits. He also makes twice as much. Jeannot is currently living up to his contract and providing value, Kuzmeko is not.

 

We would be adding a pick to this trade, and also likely needing to take back more dead cap.

[TheGuardian]

3 minutes ago, BPA said:

Are you seriously wanting to trade Boeser when he is finally having success?  He worked hard in the offseason (skipped the Beauty League) and seems fully committed to the Tocchet system.  And not cheating the zone to get a scoring opportunity.

 

Compared that to Kuz who apparently didn’t train all that hard in the summer.  Supposedly vacationing in Bali (I think).  Kuz needs to work on the fundamentals that Tocchet wants.  I’m guessing he’ll get out back onto EP line at some point.  The grinders on EP line are having limited success.  But it’s up to Kuz to prove he belongs there.

What are the odds Boeser even plays a full season? Much higher now that he doesn't check anymore.

Beauty league, 8 rinks games.

Tocchet's system? Look back 40 years that's his system. Two scoring lines, a checking line whose job it is not to be scored on and the 4th line, an energy line a banger line boards guys.

North south hockey, dump and chase, dumb the game down, KISS keep it simple stupid.

 

Kuz didn't train all that hard? Did you see any to those videos?

Kuz is a sophomore 40 goal scorer. Did Tocchet do this with Stamkos? 2nd year player

What does Tocchet want? Staples? Board battles? Hitting? What? Tocchet plays favourites and is too opinionated for the modern game. Players have too much say for him to be effective very long. Too many wanted out of Arizona when he was there and skill guys point totals went down dramatically.

Do people think he has some kind of magic secret system

 

How does Kuzmenko earn his spot back from the press box?

 

Fans should have some concerns, not about making the playoffs that should be a done deal now, but about the future. This group much like the covid year, cannot be kept together for too long. The core, they young guys are aging. In 2 years Pettersson is either a FA or signed but still he is 27 yrs old. Hughes might be the only young guy.

 

IF the team treats FAs the way Kuzmenko is being treated how many 40 goal scorers will pick Vancouver? The highest cost of living in North America, high taxes and a team that will not hesitate to run the player out of the market.

 

I am sure Pettersson just loves that he can't play with the guy that helped him to his highest point total when the team was a mess. Short term signing no doubt.

 

Tocchet is not being creative, he isn't trying to make Kuzmenko better. Has there been any practice time one on one like several of his favourites get?

Why did Tocchet get canned by Pittsburgh? Tampa? Arizona? All pretty short tenures. That he gets as many jobs just shows how good he is at the gift of the gab. He certainly has the Vancouver media lined up in a row. 

 

Getting outshot constantly isn't a sign of a good system, it is a sign of great goalies and decent defencemen. Having a shooting percentage twice the league average isn't likely to continue either. So get rid of a sophomore 40 goal scorer?

[MeanSeanBean]

6 minutes ago, TheGuardian said:

What are the odds Boeser even plays a full season? Much higher now that he doesn't check anymore.

Beauty league, 8 rinks games.

Tocchet's system? Look back 40 years that's his system. Two scoring lines, a checking line whose job it is not to be scored on and the 4th line, an energy line a banger line boards guys.

North south hockey, dump and chase, dumb the game down, KISS keep it simple stupid.

 

Kuz didn't train all that hard? Did you see any to those videos?

Kuz is a sophomore 40 goal scorer. Did Tocchet do this with Stamkos? 2nd year player

What does Tocchet want? Staples? Board battles? Hitting? What? Tocchet plays favourites and is too opinionated for the modern game. Players have too much say for him to be effective very long. Too many wanted out of Arizona when he was there and skill guys point totals went down dramatically.

Do people think he has some kind of magic secret system

 

How does Kuzmenko earn his spot back from the press box?

 

Fans should have some concerns, not about making the playoffs that should be a done deal now, but about the future. This group much like the covid year, cannot be kept together for too long. The core, they young guys are aging. In 2 years Pettersson is either a FA or signed but still he is 27 yrs old. Hughes might be the only young guy.

 

IF the team treats FAs the way Kuzmenko is being treated how many 40 goal scorers will pick Vancouver? The highest cost of living in North America, high taxes and a team that will not hesitate to run the player out of the market.

 

I am sure Pettersson just loves that he can't play with the guy that helped him to his highest point total when the team was a mess. Short term signing no doubt.

 

Tocchet is not being creative, he isn't trying to make Kuzmenko better. Has there been any practice time one on one like several of his favourites get?

Why did Tocchet get canned by Pittsburgh? Tampa? Arizona? All pretty short tenures. That he gets as many jobs just shows how good he is at the gift of the gab. He certainly has the Vancouver media lined up in a row. 

 

Getting outshot constantly isn't a sign of a good system, it is a sign of great goalies and decent defencemen. Having a shooting percentage twice the league average isn't likely to continue either. So get rid of a sophomore 40 goal scorer?

Ah yes, the "I saw it on a couple social media videos so it must be true" argument.

[Gurn]

Call the Capitals- they might pay a bit more for a guy to "get Ovie" going.

 

Trade or not- they need to make that decision soon, as his value is slipping away- both due to the games he sits, and the ones he plays.

[Rekker]

32 minutes ago, BPA said:

What about Jeannot from TBL?  
 

TBL paid a boatload for the guy and doesn’t seem to working well in their system.  Not sure if he’s top 6 material though.

 

Kuz might have some success in the TBL run and gun style.

 

Kuz for Jeannot + pick?  
 

Canucks would also benefit with about $3M in cap savings too.

 

Why would Tampa trade a player who they spent damn near an entire draft class on to aquire, is on a good contract, is playing well, for Kuz?

[BPA]

15 minutes ago, TheGuardian said:

What are the odds Boeser even plays a full season? Much higher now that he doesn't check anymore.

Beauty league, 8 rinks games.

Tocchet's system? Look back 40 years that's his system. Two scoring lines, a checking line whose job it is not to be scored on and the 4th line, an energy line a banger line boards guys.

North south hockey, dump and chase, dumb the game down, KISS keep it simple stupid.

 

Kuz didn't train all that hard? Did you see any to those videos?

Kuz is a sophomore 40 goal scorer. Did Tocchet do this with Stamkos? 2nd year player

What does Tocchet want? Staples? Board battles? Hitting? What? Tocchet plays favourites and is too opinionated for the modern game. Players have too much say for him to be effective very long. Too many wanted out of Arizona when he was there and skill guys point totals went down dramatically.

Do people think he has some kind of magic secret system

 

How does Kuzmenko earn his spot back from the press box?

 

Fans should have some concerns, not about making the playoffs that should be a done deal now, but about the future. This group much like the covid year, cannot be kept together for too long. The core, they young guys are aging. In 2 years Pettersson is either a FA or signed but still he is 27 yrs old. Hughes might be the only young guy.

 

IF the team treats FAs the way Kuzmenko is being treated how many 40 goal scorers will pick Vancouver? The highest cost of living in North America, high taxes and a team that will not hesitate to run the player out of the market.

 

I am sure Pettersson just loves that he can't play with the guy that helped him to his highest point total when the team was a mess. Short term signing no doubt.

 

Tocchet is not being creative, he isn't trying to make Kuzmenko better. Has there been any practice time one on one like several of his favourites get?

Why did Tocchet get canned by Pittsburgh? Tampa? Arizona? All pretty short tenures. That he gets as many jobs just shows how good he is at the gift of the gab. He certainly has the Vancouver media lined up in a row. 

 

Getting outshot constantly isn't a sign of a good system, it is a sign of great goalies and decent defencemen. Having a shooting percentage twice the league average isn't likely to continue either. So get rid of a sophomore 40 goal scorer?

Canucks have like 7-9 coaches at practice.  That includes the Sedins.  You telling me that Kuz is not getting any help from any of them?

 

So you want to fire Tocchet instead of trading Kuz?  I’m sorry but Canucks are at the top of the league and pretty sure it has to do more with Tocchet than with Kuz.

 

Kuz played great last year under Bruce Boudreau.  But now doesn’t fit quite well under Tocchet.  That is just the way it goes sometimes.  It’s up to Kuz to play Tocchets way or he will eventually get traded.

[BPA]

1 minute ago, Rekker said:

Why would Tampa trade a player who they spent damn near an entire draft class on to aquire, is on a good contract, is playing well, for Kuz?

Cuz I want PA to fleece TBL.  

[MeanSeanBean]

3 minutes ago, BPA said:

Canucks have like 7-9 coaches at practice.  That includes the Sedins.  You telling me that Kuz is not getting any help from any of them?

 

So you want to fire Tocchet instead of trading Kuz?  I’m sorry but Canucks are at the top of the league and pretty sure it has to do more with Tocchet than with Kuz.

 

Kuz played great last year under Bruce Boudreau.  But now doesn’t fit quite well under Tocchet.  That is just the way it goes sometimes.  It’s up to Kuz to play Tocchets way or he will eventually get traded.

Tocc is the current front runner for the Jack Adams, has the team first in the league surpassing anyone's wildest dreams for this season, and is squeezing value out of 95% of the team with his accountability but yeah, let's fire him because Kuzmeko isn't playing well after posting countless videos of him running around on the beach in Bali this summer. 

[Elias Pettersson]

3 hours ago, MeanSeanBean said:

You think Kuzmeko is worth a first? Guy is getting scratched regularly and now has term and money. I was hopefully for a first for him last year when he was on pace for 40 goals and at near league minimum. Any trade with Kuzmeko now is money in, money out, for a player who's likely also struggling. Not a high draft pick.

 

Washington will easily pay a 1st to get Kuzy and have him help Ovi break the record...

[Tusk]

On 12/20/2023 at 1:00 PM, Jeremy Hronek said:

 

True but it seems like a terribly underwhelming return for Kuzmenko.  

 

We'd probably be better off waiting for Kuz to find his game again similar to what we did with Boeser.  

Its possible the canucks bench was unable to source banannas and pepsi.  And for sure Tocc is telling all the other players you dont do offseason in BALI

[MeanSeanBean]

15 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

 

Washington will easily pay a 1st to get Kuzy and have him help Ovi break the record...

Agree to disagree. I see no world where Kuzmeko holds that type of value right now. I'd reckon there's about a 50/50 chance we'll find out who's right within the month. I'll make sure to re-open this discussion if he's traded.