Multiple teams interested in top European free agent
With the off-season already begun for half the teams in the National Hockey League, the focus shifts for those teams to one of improvement. Where does one team start though? Surely all non playoff teams have more than one need, so how does one go about prioritizing needs based on necessity and want?
Well, there's one place to start with offensively plagued teams. Andrei Kuzmenko, just became a highly sought after European free agent looking to play in the NHL next year. As reported by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman during the first intermission panel of the Pens Rangers game last night the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators among a list that reportedly includes 20 of the 32 NHL clubs are bidding for the forwards services next year.
Of note, Bruce Boudreau was involved in the #Canucks meeting with Kuzmenko.
Kuzmenko, 26, is coming off a season on which he put up 53 points in 45 games this season including 20 goals and 33 assists in 45 games this season.
Of note here: Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau has been heavily involved in the recruiting process. it's also rumoured that General Manager Jim Rutherford has wanted to bring Kuzmenko to North America for some time.
A decision regarding his future in North America is supposed to come from Kuzmenko by the end of the month.
| POLL | ||
Where will Kuzmenko land? | ||
| Oilers | 25 | 24.3 % |
| Canucks | 22 | 21.4 % |
| Carolina | 20 | 19.4 % |
| Other | 36 | 35 % |
| List of polls | ||
