[Batchelor] Shorter than normal post game presser from Rick Tocchet. He was very unhappy with his team’s first period. When asked about Kuzmenko, he noted that he’s tired of answering questions about him, and that he needs to forecheck.
Shorter than normal post game presser from Rick Tocchet. He was very unhappy with his team’s first period.
When asked about Kuzmenko, he noted that he’s tired of answering questions about him, and that he needs to forecheck. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) December 6, 2023
18 comments
Man those training rinks in Bali are something else huh Kuzy
Is petey injured? or just playing thru a slump?
I think Tomlinson said it best with Kuzmenko’s shot: he has no confidence and when he has no confidence he tries to set up the perfect play. By the time he has the right position, he’s stripped of the puck and it’s down the ice. He’s just gotta shoot
Am i missing something or? How does kuzmenko keep becoming the punching bag for tocchet when there were guys who played worse
Love Kuzy’s upbeat attitude, but this sophomore slump is worst than I thought. He’s not going to get 39 goals at this rate, but I would be surprised if he even gets 25. Fortunately for the Canucks, Boeser is picking up the slack.
Tocchet hates this guy.
He’s trying to score toomuch now. There would be an easy pass and goal, but he’s electing to shoot because all the pressure on him. He’s playing selfishly.
He doesn’t finish his check…. Ever
Perfect trade bait.
Here’s a possible deal that Tocchet would probably like.
Capitals are last in the league in scoring and love Russians. Trade them Kuz for Anthony Mantha. Essentially the same salary, both with one year left, neither have trade protections.
Mantha is 6’5 230. Responsible veteran that doesn’t have the offensive upside as Kuz but a better fit from a responsibility perspective. He can be a net-front presence as well .. something that Tocchet has talked about needing more of when they acquired Zadorov.
[https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=136790](https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=136790)
The canucks are never on the same page. Always someone having a bad slump while others are doing well. They pretty much never all do well at the same time which to me seems like it’s a chemistry thing
Kuz with the raw talent, but lacking the confidence and hockey IQ. Hopefully he can see’s Hogs and Boeser as proof that Tocchet and co know what they are doing. Hope he’s going hard in those practices because he needs to catch up!
Time to see if we can get value for him still imo. He’s a good player but he is never going to fit what tocchet wants. It’s unfortunate.
I’ve got little time for Rick complaining about Kuzmenko when his team’s PK and d-zone coverage are absolutely dogg shit. Those are coachable. 39 goals is not.
Who would’ve ever thought doing Pilates and Capoeira in Bali to prep for your second NHL season was a bad idea?
lol I made a post about whether it really is worth keeping Kuzmenko long term, and what his future here would like like. It got shat on, but ppl need to really start thinking about it. I’d hope that he can simplify his game and turn it around, just seems like he’s one of those players that needs to be everywhere offensively for there to be a game, and it leads to mistakes. Not saying he’s that, but reminds me a tad of Yakupov.
The reality is, if he is this type of player, we shouldn’t be extending him with a higher cap hit. The time to act would be in the off-season. There may not be a huge market for him, but there could be teams low on offense, eager to take a shot with him. We could retain and get something for him rather than lose for nothing. Just seems like he’s not gonna fit in Toc’s system no matter what.
Failure of tocchet Kuz is playing worse than last year. The coach of the year shine is coming off tocchet during this recent stretch of mediocre games.
Why doesn’t Tocchet call out Pettersson he looks lethargic out there last 10 games. I haven’t seen a single successful zone entry. This is the guy holding out on contract negotiations and trying to get 10 mil aav when he doesn’t create any plays and is easily stripped of the puck. That whole line needs to work harder, they have more than enough skill on the line and it’s not producing well at all.