Flames Likely Let Declining Asset Walk as a Free Agent

Andrei Kuzmenko is underperforming again this season, and the Calgary Flames would ideally like to trade him if they could find a taker. Unfortunately, his lack of production and inconsistency in the NHL has been a real problem, and reports are the team won’t be able to find a trade, even at a retained price. As such, “…the Flames will likely let him walk in the offseason as a free agent.”

---

---

In a recent article for The Athletic, Harman Dayal and Chris Johnston discussed “under the radar” trade candidates that are losing value around the league. Kuzmenko was an obvious choice for the list. They write that Kuzmenko has been one of the NHL’s most “volatile forwards over the last three seasons.” They add:

Kuzmenko is a streaky, one-dimensional scorer. He can score in bunches and has unique offensive creativity when he’s on, but he’s proven to disappear for long stretches throughout his up-and-down career. Given his recent struggles, one-dimensional playing style and $5.5 million cap hit, it may be difficult for the Flames to find suitors for Kuzmenko. 

The Flames Gambled and Lost on Kuzmenko

Calgary got Kuzmenko as a throw-in with the Elias Lindholm trade, and it looked good at first. But, as the winger had done in Vancouver before, his high-end production disappeared. Now, the retooling Flames can’t keep him in the lineup, and if they can’t trade him, they will lose him for nothing.

That’s unfortunate considering the upside he’s had and could have again.

At this point, the best thing Calgary can do is hope that someone offers anything. Sure, there’s a negligible difference between trading a player for a sixth-round pick and letting that player walk away, but a pick of any kind is something. The scribes write, “Kuzmenko is subpar defensively and a very slow skater… He often looks like a passenger.”

This is the kind of player the Flames should try and move. What they don’t want is to allow that kind of approach to a game to rub off on others. Send a message and move on. Dump the forward and tell the rest of the team that if they have no interest in doing what’s needed to compete, the organization is willing to take a loss just to say goodbye.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup: Jets, Leafs, Kings, Penguins