-AJ- Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted June 20, 2022 Author Share Posted June 20, 2022 Have to admit, I only first heard about this guy a few days ago. Seems solid, but I'm unsure of his NHL level of play. We've seen a lot of NHL busts be stars in the SHL, but we've also seen several KHL stars succeed in the NHL. My gut feeling is that he'll be a middle six guy, good for 35-45 points, but I really don't know a whole lot about him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Fanuck Posted June 20, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted June 20, 2022 Let's be realistic with our expectations with this player people. Let's see him in camp and go from there. A lot can be determined by the shape he shows up in camp. 5 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 St. Petersburg is an elite team. No reason to think he can't keep up the pace of his final year there. He will have the best of the best in coaching and some extraordinary line mates to ease the transition. Pretty sure he already knows most of what to expect. There are things like the defensive side of the game is somewhat different here and the line changes need to be almost perfect. Again, lots of help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 My biggest joy is going to be watching #96 flying around the ice... 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vancan2233 Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 11 minutes ago, Muttley said: St. Petersburg is an elite team. No reason to think he can't keep up the pace of his final year there. He will have the best of the best in coaching and some extraordinary line mates to ease the transition. Pretty sure he already knows most of what to expect. There are things like the defensive side of the game is somewhat different here and the line changes need to be almost perfect. Again, lots of help. The NHLe Calculator has him getting: 78 points in the NHL for his point total in KHL 2021-22. 43 points in the NHL from his points in KHL 2020-21. 44 points for 2019-2020. Average is 55 points. The NHLe has been close with a number of players I have used the calculator with. So 40 to 60 points is realistic for him. 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanuck94 Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 The main thing I like from the scouting reports I hear and have read of Kuzmeko is: - He's a play creator with very good passing - Good 2way ability - Makes good passes from below the goal line Those are some elements that can help him be successful in the NHL. We only have a few play driving creators on forward with Petey, Miller and Garland. Hopefully Kuzmenko can translate and add to that list. Exciting times as a Canucks fan already, can't wait until the draft! 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 IF he hits the jackpot, sure would make up for our squandered 2014, 1st r disappointments(not namin' names) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Alflives Posted June 20, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted June 20, 2022 1 hour ago, -AJ- said: Have to admit, I only first heard about this guy a few days ago. Seems solid, but I'm unsure of his NHL level of play. We've seen a lot of NHL busts be stars in the SHL, but we've also seen several KHL stars succeed in the NHL. My gut feeling is that he'll be a middle six guy, good for 35-45 points, but I really don't know a whole lot about him. I watched lots of Pods’ game in his last KHL season. Kuzmenko, who I’d never heard of at that time, stood out every shift. I remember thinking he’d be excellent in the NHL now he’s ours. He’s going to put up a lot of points. But it’s how he lays that’s eye catching. He’s always on pucks, winning battles, making plays, and getting to the net. 1 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 30 minutes ago, MrCanuck94 said: The main thing I like from the scouting reports I hear and have read of Kuzmeko is: - He's a play creator with very good passing - Good 2way ability - Makes good passes from below the goal line Those are some elements that can help him be successful in the NHL. We only have a few play driving creators on forward with Petey, Miller and Garland. Hopefully Kuzmenko can translate and add to that list. Exciting times as a Canucks fan already, can't wait until the draft! Having the puck (the play) not die on your stick when you're making plays is what separates a player from a pretender to a well oiled piece of the puzzle. I feel confident Bruce Boudreau will have Kuzmenko up to speed quickly and no doubt multi tasking as he has for some of the other Canucks he felt could branch out in regards to their repertoire of talents and personal skills that they have shown a knack for. Hell, Kuzmenkos gonna love it here.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted June 21, 2022 Author Share Posted June 21, 2022 Interesting tidbit I noticed is that he played with Oscar Fantenberg and Linden Vey this past year. Wonder if they influenced him to join Vancouver in any way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Hard to say how he'll perform. Podkolzin is going to have a break-out year and IMO score 25 goals easily, 30 is honestly not out of the cards for Podz. He'll get top 6 minutes all year and may get some time with Petey. As for Kuzmenko it's obviously a gamble. If he even drops 20 goals, 50 points then we should be chuffed. My main concern is that he'll be too slow for the NHL but if he sucks you know Bruce will drop him to the 3rd line for a bit (or maybe just healthy scratch him here and there). Obviously we all hope it's a seemless transition but you just never know and he doesn't have the one thing the NHL really runs on at the moment and that's speed and skating. He is highly skilled though which we can certainly use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Watching his highlights from last year, he really looks like a PP merchant. Not much speed on the rush but some pretty savvy hockey IQ. He played the bumper role really well and is good behind the net so I think he'll gel really well with Bo. If he gets 2nd unit PP time he could really single handedly elevate their play but who knows - he might take someone's spot on the 1st unit if he plays that bumper role on the left side really well (Boeser's played there a lot before). Have Kuzmenko on the left side near the goal line, Miller on the left half boards, Bo in the crease, Petey on the right and Hughes up top. Watching the highlights though, the KHL defenders really aren't as physical or quick to close gaps so I think Kuzmenko will have a hard time dealing with the speed of defenders closing in on him but let's hope he gets used to it quickly. His speed of his wrist shot though is pretty NHL-worthy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted June 21, 2022 Author Share Posted June 21, 2022 1 hour ago, DownUndaCanuck said: Watching his highlights from last year, he really looks like a PP merchant. Not much speed on the rush but some pretty savvy hockey IQ. He played the bumper role really well and is good behind the net so I think he'll gel really well with Bo. If he gets 2nd unit PP time he could really single handedly elevate their play but who knows - he might take someone's spot on the 1st unit if he plays that bumper role on the left side really well (Boeser's played there a lot before). Have Kuzmenko on the left side near the goal line, Miller on the left half boards, Bo in the crease, Petey on the right and Hughes up top. Watching the highlights though, the KHL defenders really aren't as physical or quick to close gaps so I think Kuzmenko will have a hard time dealing with the speed of defenders closing in on him but let's hope he gets used to it quickly. His speed of his wrist shot though is pretty NHL-worthy. I wouldn't be surprised if the greater size of KHL rinks factored into the slower game, though obviously the level of players/competition is probably the largest factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phat Fingers Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 With Kuzmenko, who leaves? I don’t know enough about Kuzmenko to predict, but I know that the Pens have been excellent at identifying players that can gain more out of star players, a fundamental weakness with the Canucks, in their history, to put serious effort and or results in getting the right linemates for out best talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 5 hours ago, -AJ- said: Interesting tidbit I noticed is that he played with Oscar Fantenberg and Linden Vey this past year. Wonder if they influenced him to join Vancouver in any way. I'm pretty sure it was the steak and seafood dinner at Blue Water Cafe and Elisa that was the difference maker... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putgolzin Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 13 hours ago, MrCanuck94 said: The main thing I like from the scouting reports I hear and have read of Kuzmeko is: - He's a play creator with very good passing - Good 2way ability - Makes good passes from below the goal line Those are some elements that can help him be successful in the NHL. We only have a few play driving creators on forward with Petey, Miller and Garland. Hopefully Kuzmenko can translate and add to that list. Exciting times as a Canucks fan already, can't wait until the draft! My thought as well. Years ago we had tonnes of passers but few trigger-men - now it's flipped so that the majority of our forwards score as many as they assist on. It will be nice to have another really good passer in the top 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 @Dazzle requests that kuzy is placed in the prospect section rather than current roster. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngould21 Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 10 hours ago, -AJ- said: Interesting tidbit I noticed is that he played with Oscar Fantenberg and Linden Vey this past year. Wonder if they influenced him to join Vancouver in any way. Could he be an upgrade on D? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolboarder Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 7 hours ago, -AJ- said: I wouldn't be surprised if the greater size of KHL rinks factored into the slower game, though obviously the level of players/competition is probably the largest factor. I have learned that in KHL, some KHL teams adapted NHL-sized ice so I think he will do just fine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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