Calgary Flames Andrei Kuzmenko could reportedly be trade chip for team this season

PUBLICATION

Cooper Godin
August 17, 2024 (3:28 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

A Calgary Flames forward could reportedly be a trade chip for the team this season.

Next season is poised to be another rough one for the Calgary Flames in the Pacific Division. They're looking to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2022, but they'll be in tough trying to lock up a spot, especially a wildcard berth, with several teams in the Central Division improving their respective rosters this summer. Within their division, they'll be competing with Vancouver, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Vegas and potentially Seattle, all of whom will be in the mix for a top-three spot.

With a playoff spot next season likely out of the equation, the Flames may eventually look to explore trade options for certain players on their roster, including those who are on expiring contracts.

In a recent article on The Hockey Writers, Jim Parsons suggested that Calgary Flames forward Andrei Kuzmenko could be a trade chip for General Manager Craig Conroy leading up to the deadline. Parsons says that Kuzmenko needs to prove to the Flames that he's more than just a goal scorer and needs to round out his game a bit to potentially be in line for a contract extension before hitting the open market next July.

If he's unable to do that, Parsons says that the Yakutsk, Russia native could be used as a trade chip for the Flames. Depending on how Kuzmenko performs, he could net the Flames a pretty solid return.

"While the Flames are patient with Kuzmenko, his long-term future in Calgary hinges on his ability to round out his game beyond scoring. If he becomes more than just a solid goal scorer, he could earn a long-term extension. However, if he doesn't, he may become a desirable trade deadline trade target before he hits free agency next summer." Parsons said.

Kuzmenko, 28, was traded to the Calgary Flames back in January by the Vancouver Canucks in the Elias Lindholm deal. After struggling in the first half of his second NHL season with Vancouver, which included stints in the press box as a healthy scratch, Kuzmenko looked like his normal self after the trade. In 29 games with the Flames after being traded, he registered 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists), six penalty minutes and was a minus-eight.

We'll have to wait and see what the first few months of the season look like for the Calgary Flames and Andrei Kuzmenko. Once the calendar flips to 2025, if the Flames are outside the playoff picture, then it'll be the perfect time to take a step back, evaluate and see what they want to do with Andrei Kuzmenko.