At the NHL Trade Deadline, all of the hockey world was talking about Mikko Rantanen and Brock Nelson, among others, but the Los Angeles Kings acquisition of Andrei Kuzmenko flew largely under the radar.
Now, with the Kings coming off a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Edmonton Oilers to give themselves a 1-0 series lead, it is looking like they may have acquired one of, if not the most impactful player at the deadline.
Kuzmenko finished the regular season with 37 total points, with 17 of those coming during his time in Los Angeles. For context, Rantanen garnered 18 points during the remaining regular season with the Dallas Stars in the same time frame.
Andrei Kuzmenko Has Been Huge Acquisition For Los Angeles Kings
While we didn’t know exactly where Kuzmenko would slot in with the lineup, he has been dangerous in whatever line combination, especially on the power play, and on the first line combination with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
He put this on display in the playoff opener, notching the game’s opening goal to give the Kings a 1-0 lead. He would go on to tally two more assists, finishing the evening with three total points, endowing himself as a Los Angeles Kings star.
He has a plus/minus rating of +7 since joining the Kings.
Related: USC Trojans Gain Commitment From Talented Penn State Transfer
The talk around the National Hockey League is still centered around many of the other big-name acquisitions that were added to help powerhouse teams go on a run. But it is safe to say, if the Kings go on a deep playoff run and if they make the Stanley Cup Final, Andrei Kuzmenko will be a huge reason for that.
Many Kings fans and pundits wanted to see GM Rob Blake more active at the deadline, and to go after one of the bigger-named players I mentioned above. But, clearly, he loved his roster and felt that it was perhaps just missing one lesser-known piece.
Like a symphony missing just one more instrument to make it all sound divine. Not a new conductor. Not a new number. Just one more horn or stringed instrument needed to complete the famed Jupiter Symphony.
Andrei Kuzmenko is playing his instrument in perfect harmony with the rest of the Los Angeles Kings.