Canucks, Rutherford will ‘continue to try to help’ struggling Kuzmenko

VANCOUVER – As trade conjecture swirls around struggling Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko, president Jim Rutherford said Monday the team won’t lock itself into a long-term position on the second-year player.

Rutherford said the Canucks believe in Kuzmenko but “will keep an open mind” as last year’s 39-goal scorer struggles to adapt to coach Rick Tocchet’s demands and plays – for now – on Vancouver’s fourth line.

“I’m concerned only to the point that now he’s feeling the pressure,” Rutherford said in an interview with Sportsnet. “And when you feel the pressure and you start pushing, squeezing the stick harder and passing when you should be shooting and vice versa, you get a little bit concerned.

“I believe in the staff we have and they will continue to work with him. He’s a good player. He is a capable player. Is he a guy that’s going to score 40 goals again? Maybe not. But certainly, the way he plays, you should be able to project him at 25.”

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Asked if the team will be patient with Kuzmenko and let the 27-year-old work his way out of problems, Rutherford said: “Well, we’ll keep an open mind. I don’t want to just lock ourselves into one answer. But we need to continue to try to help him.”

Starting a two-year, $11-million contract extension earned during his outstanding first season in the NHL, Kuzmenko was healthy-scratched by Tocchet for two games in late November.

Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that teams have been calling the Canucks since then about the Russian’s availability.

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Four games after his return to the lineup, Kuzmenko played his way out of the Canucks’ top-six forwards and down to the fourth line during a 6-5 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

“I’m tired of answering questions about him,” Tocchet said after the game. “Kuzie. . . he’s got to forecheck. Let’s start with that.”

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Tocchet explained later that Kuzmenko has to compete for pucks, and can’t wait for linemates to get them for him. The left winger has been replaced alongside top centre Elias Pettersson by Sam Lafferty, who has three goals and five points in the last four games.

Nils Hoglander, another speedy depth player who is strong on the puck and plays with directness, has skated with centre J.T. Miller since partway through the New Jersey game when Kuzmenko was demoted.

The Canucks have won both games since then and Hoglander has scored twice since his promotion.

Kuzmenko remains on the Canucks’ top power-play unit, but it, too, is struggling. During a first-period advantage in Saturday’s 4-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes, Kuzmenko was in an outstanding shooting position in the slot but instead sent an errant pass to the sideboards.

He played only three shifts in the final period and his even-strength ice time 6:42 was the second-lowest on the team.

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Kuzmenko has one goal in his last 15 games and just four in 25 games this season. Since missing one game due to injury after taking a Miller slapshot on the chin during a Canuck power play on Nov. 15, Kuzmenko has one goal, no assists and just 12 shots on goal in nine matches.

The Canucks, who did not practise Monday, play the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday at Rogers Arena.

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