The Los Angeles Kings have reportedly acquired forward Andrei Kuzmenko from the Philadelphia Flyers (as per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet). The deal will see a third round pick in 2027, and a 2025 seventh round pick (as per team release) headed back to the Flyers (as per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports) who will also retain 50% of Kuzmenko’s cap hit for the remainder of the season (as per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period). Kuzmenko is in the second season of a two-year, $11MM contract that carries an annual cap hit of $5.5MM. With the 50% retention, Los Angeles will only be adding $2.75MM to their cap spreadsheet. Kuzmenko is set to hit unrestricted free agency at the end of the season.
It’s the second trade in two months for the 29-year-old Kuzmenko who was dealt from Calgary to Philadelphia back on January 30th along with Jakob Pelletier and two draft picks in exchange for Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. It’s been a quiet season for Kuzmenko who has been unable to find stability among all of the movement. In 43 games this year, Kuzmenko has registered just six goals and 14 assists.
An undrafted free agent signing in July 2022, Kuzmenko had a monstrous rookie season with the Vancouver Canucks in 2022-23, posting 39 goals and 35 assists in 81 games. However, his sophomore season saw a dramatic drop off in production as Kuzmenko tallied just 22 goals and 24 assists in 72 games and was dealt midseason to Calgary in the Elias Lindholm trade.
Kuzmenko leaves Philadelphia having played just seven games with the Flyers. He was quite good in Philadelphia after struggling in Calgary, posting two goals and three assists in his abbreviated stay. He could prove to be a steal for the Kings if he can get on a heater. Kuzmenko has been streaky throughout his NHL career and has responded well following trades in the past. Last year after joining Calgary mid-season, Kuzmenko went on to notch 14 goals and 11 assists in his final 29 games after a sluggish start to his season. If Los Angeles gets production anything close to that it will have been worth the cost of the third-round pick.
I know he plays a different role but I’d much rather trade a 3rd for the chance a proven scorer like Kuzmenko gets hot than a 2nd for some of these bottom six role players that have been dealt.
Blake got back a 7th & Philly to pay 1/2 his Cap Hit! Not too shabby! Put Kuz on a line with Kopi, but knowing Hiller he will move him down to the 4th line before the game is over!
So long, Kuz.
2027 3rd round pick.
Flyers retooling at a snail’s pace.
Ya it’s unacceptable!
They weren’t resigning him…. so just let him walk? Or did you want to keep him and hope that helps get them to the Playoffs where they get smoked in the first round and then make their first round draft pick worse?
I know right! I mean Briere took Walker that was a throw-in/salary dump and turned him into a 1st rnd pick. Now took Kuz back as a throw in/salary dump and turned it into a 3rd! His ROI on these things are quite good!
is this the answering to their scoring woes?
King need more then that to beat oiler
It’s not the Kings that the Oilers have to worry about, Vegas will pick apart Edmonton like vultures if they meet in the playoffs.
Briere is clearly unqualified as a GM.
swap for blake
Let me get this straight
You go to the market with a 1st round pick. A young up and coming blue liner in Clarke and about 3mill in cap and this is what you come home with? Seriously
Sorry Rob Love ya man your #4 will always be in the rafters at Staples. (I refuse to call it crypto). But it is time for a new voice in the GMs office
Thank goodness he’s not following your thoughts and burning the future for a rental.
You absolutely do not move Clarke, and their system is in dire need of an overhaul. LA doesn’t have the assets to move the needle with outside of that. I think it’s see how far they go this year and then add your top six winger by FA. Mitch Marner, hopefully.
This is way better. Keep their assets and let the future GM go for it. Blake is cooked
He’ll be scratched within a week. BLuc is allergic to offensive talent.
LAK fan since 1969… really disappointing Rob.
Good and safe trade. Kings aren’t winning the cup this hear, too many holes, much better suited to add this summer.
same old same old. They need better decision makers before they will become contenders.
The off season moves have worked out really well. Although a 2nd & 4th for Jeannot was crazy! The PP & PK are killing the Kings right now!
Not bad, put him with Kopi and move Turcotte back to 4th line center! Maybe we can add Donato and have a decent offense!
This is exactly the right type of move for the Kings, especially in light of these crazy prices. Their only real hope of making noise in the playoffs is for their current top players to up their game, either by regressing to their mean (Kopi, Kempe, Doughty, Moore, etc.) or young players taking a big step, (Byfield, Laffy, Clarke, etc.) or both. There was no one player available that was going to make a huge difference if that doesn’t happen, especially not for multiple firsts, Clarke, Spence, and/or Greentree.
This is a low risk, high reward move that shows the team they’re going for it without mortgaging the future, which is still bright for them if they stick with these young guys and make a big splash this Summer, like Marner. I would have loved for a fourth line type guy to replace Lewis, but again, prices are outrageous so I have no complaints with this move.
But this is exactly where they’ve been the last many years., Good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to progress. Same problems with scoring persist. They don’t do a good job of developing young players. Same old same old. Rob sadly needs to go.
For sure Rob has screwed up, but trading Clarke or Greentree is only going to make the problem worse, especially for a rental.
Agreed. If this is his only move then must assume he’s waiting on the system development of goalies and Clarke/Greentree. But the team is running in place. neither awful nor legit contenders.
Andrei Kuzmenko does add potential scoring depth that LA definitely needs. Is Kuzmenko going to solve the problem entirely, probably not but it’s a step in the right direction for them. LA reportedly really wanted to get Brock Boeser but that’s something they will have to wait for during the offseason.
Maybe bring in someone from outside of the organization for GM? Breakup that Rob Luc bromance.