Andrei Kuzmenko is dealing with a devastating family tragedy as he prepares for his fifth NHL season. According to a report from Russian news outlet Ren.tv, his father, Alexander Kuzmenko, was killed while visiting the Tuva Republic in southern Siberia.
The report says Alexander Kuzmenko was on a fishing trip when a bear suddenly came out of the forest and bit him in the head. He suffered “severe facial injuries, including extensive tissue damage.” Doctors were unable to save him, and he was 62 years old.
Alexander Kuzmenko was known as a hockey coach and had worked with KHL players including Nikita Korostelev and Daniil Grigoryev, among others. The fishing trip was taking place along the Bolshoy Yenisey River, where a ban had been put in place a few days earlier after more bears were reported near the forested area.
Ren.tv also reported that 2026 has been a record year for bear attacks on humans in Russia, with at least 15 people killed in surrounding areas. Experts blamed the surge on “poor harvest of berries and pine nuts in the taiga: without their usual food before hibernation, the animals migrate en masse to populated areas, landfills, summer cottages, and farms in search of food.”
Kuzmenko’s NHL path has taken him from CSKA Moscow and SKA Saint Petersburg in Russia’s KHL to the Vancouver Canucks in 2022. He later spent two seasons with the Calgary Flames, had a short stop with the Philadelphia Flyers, and then got his career moving again with the Los Angeles Kings.
That rebound led to a one-year, $5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2026. Across his NHL career, Kuzmenko has totaled 182 points, with 85 goals and 97 assists, in 271 regular-season games. He has also posted six points, including three goals and three assists, in seven playoff games with the Kings.
In Other News...
DeVonta Smith Just Gave The Eagles A New Offensive Worry
DeVonta Smiths status is suddenly something the Eagles have to monitor closely, with the wideout missing Thursdays practice because of a hamstring injury. Its a familiar concern for Philadelphia after Smith dealt with a hamstring issue earlier in training camp, and the timing matters with another game coming up against the Bears.
Smith was a key part of the offense in the win over Tennessee, so any setback there carries real weight for the Eagles passing game. If he cannot go, the offense may need to lean more heavily on Dontayvion Wicks, who would be in line for a bigger workload depending on how the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Injury Report Looks Bad But One Detail Changes The Panic
The Eagles Week 3 injury report looks crowded enough to make anyone pause, with several offensive names either missing or limited in practice. Running backs Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley and Saquon Barkley all showed up on it, along with wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, while the defensive side included Jalen Carter, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Mukuba in some form of participation.
Still, the timing softens the alarm a bit, because Philadelphia has an extra day to get ready before its Monday night matchup with the Chicago Bears. That matters when the list includes players who are still working through the week rather than being fully shut down, and it gives the Eagles a little more runway to sort out who is truly in danger of missing game day and who is simply dealing with the usual late-September wear and tear. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Ertzs Return Hints At Eagles Plan For A Key Young Tight End
Zach Ertz finally spoke publicly after re-signing with the Eagles, and his return offered a clear glimpse at part of the plan in Philadelphia. The veteran tight end is set up to help guide rookie Eli Stowers, a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft who is currently on injured reserve and still waiting for his first NFL snap after injuries and the usual adjustment curve of pro football.
For a team that has long valued tight end play, bringing Ertz back is about more than nostalgia. His willingness to help Stowers develop suggests the Eagles see a real long-term role for the young player, and they are giving him a chance to learn before he ever gets on the field. For now, the intrigue is in how much growth Philadelphia can unlock once Stowers is healthy enough to join the mix. [Read more 🡒]