Friedman: Andrei Kuzmenko to LA

[salami]

But if we're going to pay 5.5 million (same as Danault and Juice although they are on older deals) then why not spend it on more of a "sure thing" in that salary range.
That said, I love what Kuzmenko has brought to the top line and he's been pretty awesome overall. For all the talk that he's one dimensional, doesn't back check, and has limited defensive awareness, I'd say he's proving those criticisms wrong in a Kings uniform.

I read an article where he was quoted as saying if you don't backcheck on Kopi's line you're going to get "a look" from #11. I like what he's brought to the table so far, and $5.5 wouldn't be out of the question if he keeps production up. Fact is that Juice is way underpaid and will get a huge bump come contract time.

 

[Birdman]

He wants to stay, I want a discount!

If it’s > $5M per year, only give him a 1 year deal.

 

[DryKing]

He wants to stay, I want a discount!

If it’s > $5M per year, only give him a 1 year deal.

If we take his numbers so far during his time with the Kings and calculate them over 82 games he would be on pace for 24 Goals and 53 Points. That puts him a bit under Trevor Moore last season who signed with a $4.2m AAV.

Considering Moore scored 30 years his contract year, and Kuz has scored 11 so far this season. Anything over $5M AAV seems like a significant overpayment.

Add in Foegele and his $3.5AAV, who scored 20 his contract year, and it seems even more apparent.

Sure Kuz had 39 goals his first season, and clearly has the skills to surpass both Moore and Foegele in goals each season, but currently he projects, at best, to be a 20 goal scorer each season going forward.

I'd also say that currently, both Moore and Foegele are more complete players.

 

[Clif]

I would add that Kuz feels like such a revelation because he’s playing so well with Kopitar. You do not sign a player long-term because he fits with Kopi who likely has only next year left, maybe 1 more year after that if he really wants to squeeze it out.

 

[Bollocks]

I would add that Kuz feels like such a revelation because he’s playing so well with Kopitar. You do not sign a player long-term because he fits with Kopi who likely has only next year left, maybe 1 more year after that if he really wants to squeeze it out.

This is also something to consider.

If the Kings manage a good playoff run I can see him getting a 2 year, 4.5/per kind of deal without NMC. If Kopi retires, you try him out with QB and if it doesn't work very well you trade him at the deadline for a 2nd/3rd rounder and let him prove his worth to some other team.

IF things work out very well he could motivate Kopi to return at a very discounted price to form a banger 2nd/3rd line, depending how well Danault holds up.

 

[rajuabju]

Kuzmenko has been one of Blake's best moves IMO. Would love to extend him at some reasonable number for 3-4 years in the $4.5M - $5M range.

 

[dneprovec]

Kuzmenko has the 11th assists for 19 games for LA. He had the same 11 assists in Calgary for 66 games .

In Vancouver for two seasons he had 35 in 81 games (22/23) and 13 in 43 game (23/24).

I knew that he can score on PP ,but never imagined that he can be this good in assists

 

[Halfwall]

Kuzmenko has the 11th assists for 19 games for LA. He had the same 11 assists in Calgary for 66 games .

In Vancouver for two seasons he had 35 in 81 games (22/23) and 13 in 43 game (23/24).

I knew that he can score on PP ,but never imagined that he can be this good in assists

What impresses the most with him (even beyond what you mentioned) is his puck possession skills--it is almost impossible to get him to cough up the puck.

 

[Sultanic]

The good news about a potential long-term deal is that Kuzmenko is showing just as much chemistry with Byfield as he has with Kopitar.

 

[orpheus]

Me mustering the humility to admit that Blake hit it out of the park.

 

[Bollocks]

The good news about a potential long-term deal is that Kuzmenko is showing just as much chemistry with Byfield as he has with Kopitar.

It shouldn't be a huge surprise considering QB's game is being groomed to be Kopitar-like.

 

[LAKingSteve]

There's a part of me that says, wait and see how he does in the playoffs, but man, the guy has impressed me beyond expectations so I'd be ok if they'd sign him to a deal now at a reasonable price. He's made everyone he plays with better.

 

[AngelEyes]

If we take his numbers so far during his time with the Kings and calculate them over 82 games he would be on pace for 24 Goals and 53 Points. That puts him a bit under Trevor Moore last season who signed with a $4.2m AAV.

Considering Moore scored 30 years his contract year, and Kuz has scored 11 so far this season. Anything over $5M AAV seems like a significant overpayment.

Add in Foegele and his $3.5AAV, who scored 20 his contract year, and it seems even more apparent.

Sure Kuz had 39 goals his first season, and clearly has the skills to surpass both Moore and Foegele in goals each season, but currently he projects, at best, to be a 20 goal scorer each season going forward.

I'd also say that currently, both Moore and Foegele are more complete players.

While it wouldn't be prudent for me to cherry-pick stats, I'm going to do it anyway. Kuz did not score in his first seven games with L.A. That means he has 16 points in his last 12 games, which calculates to 26 goals, 75 assists, 101 points over 82 games. Now I'm not going to stand on a box and suffer potential humiliation at the hands of LGK by declaring that he's a 100-point-per-season player. Far from it. But if he can continue to drive play in the offensive zone the way he has, I'd say he's poised to earn $5M per.

 

[salami]

Me mustering the humility to admit that Blake hit it out of the park.

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Yeah, kinda ditto for me.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

Me mustering the humility to admit that Blake hit it out of the park.

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And let's not forget he brought Darcy back, too. That's two major Bingos!

 

[Helvetica]

While it wouldn't be prudent for me to cherry-pick stats, I'm going to do it anyway. Kuz did not score in his first seven games with L.A. That means he has 16 points in his last 12 games, which calculates to 26 goals, 75 assists, 101 points over 82 games. Now I'm not going to stand on a box and suffer potential humiliation at the hands of LGK by declaring that he's a 100-point-per-season player. Far from it. But if he can continue to drive play in the offensive zone the way he has, I'd say he's poised to earn $5M per.

Against Sj he had 1g and 2a. Over 82 games that 82g and 164a for 246 pts over a full season. Im not one to cherry pick stats, but that looks awfully good to me...

 

[dneprovec]

What impresses the most with him (even beyond what you mentioned) is his puck possession skills--it is almost impossible to get him to cough up the puc

There's a part of me that says, wait and see how he does in the playoffs, but man, the guy has impressed me beyond expectations so I'd be ok if they'd sign him to a deal now at a reasonable price. He's made everyone he plays with better.

He has a lot of play offs experience in KHL and Russia national team.And he always played for heavy favorite.Yea it's different,but from mental standpoint it's same

 

[Birdman]

He has a lot of play offs experience in KHL and Russia national team.And he always played for heavy favorite.Yea it's different,but from mental standpoint it's same

He’s still too small

 

[SirJW]

Nothing more than a short deal with an extension as the carrot.

 

[symbology]

I would add that Kuz feels like such a revelation because he’s playing so well with Kopitar. You do not sign a player long-term because he fits with Kopi who likely has only next year left, maybe 1 more year after that if he really wants to squeeze it out.

This is a good point. However, after some PK'ing for the Kings last game he looked pretty good on a makeshift line with Byfield and Fiala. Very small sample size, but.........