Earlier this season, the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks made a trade involving twenty-eight-year-old Russian right winger Andrei Kuzmenko. However, Kuzmenko's performance has been below expectations, possibly due to health issues.
According to David Pagnotta at TheFourthPeriod, Kuzmenko has been battling a major virus and is far from being at full strength, which explains his absence from the lineup.
While some may criticize Kuzmenko for his underperformance, it's important to remember that hockey players, like everyone else, face personal challenges. Kuzmenko was a significant piece in the trade that sent Elias Lindholm to the Canucks, but it's crucial to recognize the human aspect of the situation.
The Flames, currently outside of playoff contention by five points, might consider further roster changes to rebuild with younger talent or acquire draft picks. However, losing a player with Kuzmenko's potential would be a blow to any NHL team. Hopefully, he'll recover soon and return to the ice alongside his teammates.
