- May 21, 2026
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The Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with unrestricted free agent forward Andrei Kuzmenko, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday afternoon.
According to LeBrun, Kuzmenko’s new contract with the Penguins carries a $5 million cap hit. He’ll once again be scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
Kuzmenko, 30, spent the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Kings, collecting 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games. The 5’11”, 200-pound left wing also appeared in one playoff game with the club, although he did not record a point.
An undrafted player, Kuzmenko first attracted the notice of NHL teams after joining KHL club SKA St. Petersburg in the 2018-19 season. The Yakustk, Russia product enjoyed four highly productive years with SKA, capping off his tenure with 20 goals and 53 points in 45 games during the 2021-22 season.
Kuzmenko parlayed that strong year into his first NHL contract with the Vancouver Canucks, with whom he burst onto the scene in the 2022-23 season with 39 goals and 74 points in 81 games. But after managing just eight goals and 21 points in 43 games to start the 2023-24 season, Kuzmenko waived his no-trade clause to accept a deal to the Calgary Flames.
The same scenario repeated on a smaller scale in Calgary, where Kuzmenko started hot with 14 goals and 25 points in his first 29 games. However, the following season, he was traded twice and finished with 11 goals and 37 points in 66 games split between the Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Kings.
In 271 career NHL games over parts of four seasons with the Canucks, Flames, Flyers, and Kings, Kuzmenko has collected 85 goals and 182 points. He’s added three goals and six points in seven career playoff contests, all with Los Angeles.
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According to LeBrun, Kuzmenko’s new contract with the Penguins carries a $5 million cap hit. He’ll once again be scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
Kuzmenko, 30, spent the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Kings, collecting 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games. The 5’11”, 200-pound left wing also appeared in one playoff game with the club, although he did not record a point.
An undrafted player, Kuzmenko first attracted the notice of NHL teams after joining KHL club SKA St. Petersburg in the 2018-19 season. The Yakustk, Russia product enjoyed four highly productive years with SKA, capping off his tenure with 20 goals and 53 points in 45 games during the 2021-22 season.
Kuzmenko parlayed that strong year into his first NHL contract with the Vancouver Canucks, with whom he burst onto the scene in the 2022-23 season with 39 goals and 74 points in 81 games. But after managing just eight goals and 21 points in 43 games to start the 2023-24 season, Kuzmenko waived his no-trade clause to accept a deal to the Calgary Flames.
The same scenario repeated on a smaller scale in Calgary, where Kuzmenko started hot with 14 goals and 25 points in his first 29 games. However, the following season, he was traded twice and finished with 11 goals and 37 points in 66 games split between the Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Kings.
In 271 career NHL games over parts of four seasons with the Canucks, Flames, Flyers, and Kings, Kuzmenko has collected 85 goals and 182 points. He’s added three goals and six points in seven career playoff contests, all with Los Angeles.
Continue reading...