Back in 2022, the Ottawa Senators were considered to be one of the final teams standing in the Andrei Kuzmenko sweepstakes. At the time, the 26-year-old had produced 53 points in 45 games in the KHL. Ultimately, Kuzmenko opted to join the Vancouver Canucks and, when he did, lit up the NHL for 74 points and 39 goals.
With that said, Elias Pettersson had 102 points and was considered one of the best players in the league. Now, as we approach free agency, the former Los Angeles Kings forward is set to join a fifth team in five years, and Ottawa is in need of a goal scorer.
Though Kuzmenko has only been able to produce that goal-scoring prowess on one team in his career, it was while playing with an elite centerman and, as it happens, Ottawa has one of those in Tim Stützle.
Coming off the second-best offensive season of his career in 2025-26 (34 goals and 49 assists), Stützle became the complete package with goal scoring, passing, and excellent defensive play. The Senators have been rumoured to be looking for a fit in a top-six role for the better part of two seasons now, and Kuzmenko could be a perfect buy-low candidate.
As mentioned previously, Kuzmenko has never been able to replicate his success in Vancouver, which would mean the cost of his next contract would be lower. If the Senators were able to sign Kuzmenko for anywhere between $2.5 and $3.5M AAV, the perceived risk of signing a player who doesn't turn out at all is low. With the cap going up, taking gambles is more and more likely.
Despite Head Coach Travis Green missing Kuzmenko by a season in his time in Vancouver, assistant coach Mike Yeo was on Bruce Boudreau’s staff that was able to unlock Kuzmenko’s potential. Though there have been trades and healthy scratches along the way, Kuzmenko may just need a head coach to give him an opportunity to grow, and Green has done that in the past with a player like Adam Gaudette.
If Kuzmenko can be had for the right price, his goal-scoring abilities should at least be worth looking into if you're GM Steve Staios.
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