Andrei Kuzmenko is dealing with devastating personal loss as he prepares for his fifth NHL season.
According to a report from Russian news outlet Ren.tv, Alexander Kuzmenko, the father of the Pittsburgh Penguins forward, was killed while visiting the Tuva Republic in southern Siberia. The report said Kuzmenko was bitten in the head by a bear that suddenly came out of the forest and suffered “severe facial injuries, including extensive tissue damage.”
Doctors were unable to save him. He was 62 years old.
Alexander Kuzmenko was known as a hockey coach and had worked with KHL players Nikita Korostelev and Daniil Grigoryev, among others. He was reportedly on a fishing trip in the area when the attack happened.
Ren.tv reported that a ban had been put in place along the Bolshoy Yenisey River just days earlier after growing reports of bears moving toward the forested area. The outlet also said 2026 has been a record year for bear attacks on humans in Russia, with at least 15 deaths 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 through several stops since arriving in North America. After time in the KHL with CSKA Moscow and SKA Saint Petersburg, he joined the NHL in 2022 with the Vancouver Canucks. He later spent two seasons with the Calgary Flames, had a short stint with the Philadelphia Flyers, and then got his career back on track with the Los Angeles Kings.
On July 1, 2026, Kuzmenko signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Penguins.
In 271 regular-season games, he has produced 182 points, with 85 goals and 97 assists. He also has six points, split between three goals and three assists, in seven playoff games with the Kings.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Fans Have A New Reason To Revisit A Summer What-If
The veteran winger Anderson has surfaced again, this time on a professional tryout with the Hershey Bears, where he is listed on the clubs training camp roster. It is another reminder of how much late-summer roster movement still ripples through the league, especially for players trying to carve out one more path into a regular season role.
For San Jose, the more immediate concern remains the health of a couple of forwards who are working through upper-body issues. Adam Gaudette is still day-to-day and has not yet returned to skating, while Patrick Giles is also day-to-day after getting hurt Tuesday, leaving the Sharks with a little more uncertainty than they would like this early in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Ivar Stenberg Gives Sharks Fans A Rookie Race Worth Watching
Ivar Stenberg is already giving Sharks fans a reason to track the 2027 rookie race before the season even gets going. Drafted second overall by San Jose in 2026, the winger has built a strong case for Calder Trophy attention with his work in the Swedish Hockey League and his international resume, where his hockey IQ and playmaking have stood out against older competition.
For a Sharks team leaning into a young core and long-term development, Stenberg fits the profile of a player who could step into the league with a head start. Betting markets and analysts have noticed, too, placing him among the early favorites as he heads toward his NHL arrival, with the mix of European pro experience and organizational patience making him one of the more intriguing names to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks May Be Counting On Michael Kesselring Sooner Than Expected
Michael Kesselring arrived at his first training camp with the Sharks carrying more than just a fresh start. His previous season with Buffalo was a frustrating one, marked by injuries and confidence issues, but he said he has put that behind him after spending the summer working with a mental coach. Now he is trying to reset in San Jose, where the transition has already started to feel more familiar as he settles in with a new team and a new set of defensive responsibilities.
There has been no easing into the job for Kesselring, either. He has spent camp alongside Darnell Nurse and is getting up to speed with the Sharks blue-line approach while building relationships with teammates and people around the organization. For a player trying to turn the page quickly, the early signs matter, and San Jose may need him to be comfortable sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]