Vasily Podkolzin reveals why Andrei Kuzmenko was traded from the Canucks
Vasily Podkolzin explains why former Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko didn't fit into Rick Tocchet's system.
Former Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko was in and out of the lineup during the early part of the 2023-24 season and wasn't fitting well into Rick Tocchet's system.
Kuzmenko thrived under Bruce Boudreau until his firing in January 2023 and played well for the remainder of the year under Rick Tocchet. Still, something changed this past season, and ultimately, the Russian forward was dealt to the Calgary Flames, along with other assets, in the Elias Lindholm trade.
In a recent interview with Russian media outlet Match TV, current Canucks forward Vasily Podkolzin was asked about why Andrei Kuzmenko couldn't fit well into Rick Tocchet's system, and he mentioned that his former teammate wasn't able to accommodate the demands that the coaching staff needed.
Podkolzin added that he didn't fit into the new style of play under Rick Tocchet last season, and being traded to the Calgary Flames was beneficial for him because it gave him more ice time, something he struggled to get in Vancouver.
Note: the quotes in this story are translated from Russian.
Kuzmenko finished the season in Calgary at nearly a point-per-game pace following the trade in late January. The Yakutsk native had 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists), six penalty minutes, and a minus-eight in 29 games. He has one year remaining on his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2025.
Source: Match TV
Podkolzin explained why Kuzmenko had problems in Vancouver
Do you think the Canucks made the right decision to trade Andrei Kuzmenko? Let us know what you think in the poll below.
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