Calgary Flames

Trade for 39-Goal Scorer Makes Short-Term Sense for Senators

The Ottawa Senators need scoring if they’re going to reach the postseason. Could Andrei Kuzmenko be an answer to the Senators’ problem?

by
Old Prof
January 29, 2025

As the NHL Trade Deadline looms, one name has drawn almost no attention. However, he might be a good pickup for a team that lacks scoring. That’s Calgary Flames winger Andrei Kuzmenko. He’s shown that he can score goals in past seasons, but not so much this season. This season has been more than a bit of a rollercoaster.

Despite a promising 39-goal campaign in 2022-23, Kuzmenko’s production has slowed to a drizzle of what it once was. He has put up just four goals and 14 points in 35 games this season. He’s struggled with a lower-body injury. And over the long term, no team will gladly pay his salary cap hit of $5.5 million. But, thinking in the short-term, that would hardly matter.

Would the Senators Be Willing to Take a Chance on Kuzmenko?

However, if Dayton Reimer is correct, the Ottawa Senators could be willing to take a chance on the 28-year-old winger, even if the price is only a lower-round pick. The Senators rank 24th in the league in prospect depth. They need scoring. That’s particularly true with star players like Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk battling through slumps. Kuzmenko could be a short-term solution. He’ll never drive a line by himself. However, he has a deadly shot and knows where to stand on the ice to score. These qualities could complement Ottawa’s existing forward unit. They could also reignite his confidence after a rough start to the season.

Kuzmenko has an odd fan in Hockey Night in Canada panelist Kelly Hrudy. Hrudy sees tons of Flames games and noted that one quality Kuzmenko has is that he’s not easily discouraged. That fact and his ability to put the puck in the net suggest that a short-term rental arrangement might work. The Senators are far from assured of making the postseason, but they do have a chance if they can score more goals.

Kuzmenko Is a Gamble, But What Would the Senators Lose?

Kuzmenko is a gamble. Still, he’d be cheap enough. He would be a low-risk (short-term) and potentially high-reward (short-term) player. A move to Ottawa would offer him a fresh start and a chance for the Sens to bolster their depth scoring without committing to a significant salary. The cap space they’ve freed up this year could make it possible to take on Kuzmenko’s contract at the end of the season. It seems pretty clear that the Flames would dump him, and if he landed in the Eastern Conference, all the better.

Andrei Kuzmenko Flames trade — Andrei Kuzmenko of the Flames could be traded.

Ottawa has been a place for players to rediscover their form. The Senators’ coaching staff, particularly head coach Travis Green, has a track record of helping players struggling to find their rhythm. Could Kuzmenko follow the trend? Green wasn’t the Canucks coach when Kuzmenko was there, but he would have watched closely to see how the Russian winger played in his breakout season. Could he be interested?

Kuzmenko seems like a long shot. But he can score. He had 39 goals and 34 assists during the 2022-23 season, so he knows where to go on the ice. If you have someone who can feed him the puck, who knows what he might be able to do? Even if the Flames are guaranteed to make the playoffs, you have to think they don’t see Kuzemko as part of their long-term plans. They won’t re-sign him. His time has come and gone. He makes $5.5 million right now, but he’s also on an expiring contract. For the Senators, that hardly matters, given that they won’t pay his salary for a long time.

Would a Change of Scenery Help Kuzmenko?

Kuzmenko has struggled with the Flames, and his play has been inconsistent. He needs a change of scenery or even a change of leagues. Who would bet against him heading home to the KHL? Meanwhile, the Senators could use Kuzmenko to boost their offensive attack as they push for the playoffs.

Kuzmenko recently scored three points in four games, including two goals in a 5-4 win over Minnesota on January 26. His recent play indicates that he’s capable of turning things around. A trade east to Ottawa could be just the change he needs to return to his 39-goal form.

Could Ottawa be the perfect landing spot for Andrei Kuzmenko? It’s one possibility to watch as the trade deadline approaches.