01/31/2025
Kuzmenko's New Chapter with Flames: A High-Impact Trade
The Vancouver Canucks have finally completed a big four-team deal by sending talented 28-year-old forward Andrei Kuzmenko to the Calgary Flames. The **January 31, 2024 trade sends Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a *2024 1st round pick*, and a *conditional 2024 4th round pick*, in exchange for *Elias Lindholm*.
Kuzmenko, dynamic scoring winger, born in Yakutsk, Russia, has taken the league by storm since signing in the 2022-23 season. In his first season with the Canucks, he co-led the team with 39 goals while pacing the team with a team-high 14 power-play goals and ranked fourth on the team with 74 points. Cummedically, Kuzmenko has recorded 65 goals and 70 assists, totaling 135 points in 190 regular season games over parts of three NHL seasons with Vancouver and Calgary. This season, he's added 15 points (4g-11a) in 37 games with the Flames.
Prior to making the jump to the NHL, Kuzmenko spent eight seasons in the KHL, notching 85 goals and 200 points in 315 regular season games while adding 18 goals and 29 points in 61 postseason contests. The trade is a significant move to Calgary, only further bolstering their forward lineup.
Joining Kuzmenko in the trade is **Jakob Pelletier, a 23-year-old forward with a bright future ahead. Having been drafted *26th overall* in the **2019 NHL Draft, Pelletier has played parts of three seasons with the *Flames*, earning *11 points (4g-7a)* in 23 games with a **+10 rating. With *21 points (8g-13a)* in **59 career NHL games, Pelletier brings versatility and skill to his new team.
If this is a new chapter at their door, the Flames are indeed eager for contributions by Kuzmenko and Pelletier as the two add some extra firepower to the lineup.
NHL