Former Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko has a new team, and hockey fans everywhere are interested in seeing how he meshes with his new head coach.
Kuzmenko was dealt from the Calgary Flames to the Philadelphia Flyers last night in a trade with a lot of moving pieces. He’s reunited with former teammate and phenom Matvei Michkov, who is amid a strong rookie season.
While it will be interesting to see how he fits with the players on his new team, people are more interested in how he meshes with head coach John Tortorella.
The bench boss is famous for his aggressive, outspoken style and demands a certain standard from his players. He has no time for missed assignments or showboating.
Throughout his NHL career thus far, Kuzmenko has shown a lot of offensive flash but hasn’t always been the most responsible defensive player. It’s what led to his departure from the Canucks after he failed to find a place under Rick Tocchet, another coach who stresses the fundamentals of the game.
Kuzmenko’s offence-first style does not typically thrive under Tortorella; in fact, it’s quite the opposite.
The contrast between Kuzmenko’s and Tortorella’s styles is vast, and the entire hockey world will be watching to see what happens. Media and fans alike took to social media after the trade to share their thoughts.
There’s no worse NHL team for Andrei Kuzmenko to join than Tortorella’s Flyers.
Decent work from the Flames, despite the draft capital and Pelletier, but I do wonder whether a Flyers stint will end Kuzmenko’s NHL tenure.
It’s a blockbuster for a Thursday, for sure.
— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) January 31, 2025
It’s going to be interesting to see how Andrei Kuzmenko does in Philadelphia being coached by John Tortorella.
— Fireside Chat Podcast (@FiresidePodcast) January 31, 2025
Tortorella and Michkov have already had their fair share of disagreements this season, including a few benchings.
Kuzmenko has just four goals and 15 points in 37 games so far this season. He has the high-end talent to succeed in the NHL but hasn’t been consistent enough to stick in the top-six, both with the Flames and when he was with the Canucks.
The Russian winger is in the final year of his contract, which pays him $5.5 million annually. Without an impressive second half of the season, he’s likely looking at a pay cut next summer.
The Flyers are second last in the Metropolitan Division, only ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’re firmly in rebuilding territory and acquired a boatload of picks alongside Kuzmenko in the trade.