Former Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko is dealing with a devastating family loss after his father, Alexander, was killed in a bear attack in Russia.
Reports out of Russia surfaced Thursday, with REN TV among the outlets carrying the news. The network identified the victim as “the tourist who died after a bear attack in Tuva” and said he was “renowned hockey coach Alexander Kuzmenko.”
REN TV added that on September 23, “a bear suddenly emerged from the forest and attacked a tourist, biting him in the head.” According to the report, the man’s companions were able to pull him away, give first aid and call an ambulance, but “Doctors were unable to save him”
The Pittsburgh Penguins said Thursday morning that they were mourning the loss as well. In a statement from president and general manager Kyle Dubas, the team said, “The Pittsburgh Penguins organization was deeply saddened this morning to learn of the passing of Andrei Kuzmenko’s father, Alexander,” Dubas said.
“Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time.
Andrei chose to be surrounded by his teammates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon. Andrei and the Kuzmenko family have the full support of the Penguins organization during this time.”
Kuzmenko’s NHL path began with Vancouver after he arrived as a KHL free agent following a 53-point run in 45 games with SKA St. Petersburg in 2021-22.
His 2022-23 season turned him into one of the Canucks’ most popular players, as the “Kuzmenkshow” caught fire in Vancouver. Skating mostly on a line with Elias Pettersson, he scored 39 goals and added 35 assists for 74 points in 81 games.
His production, along with a lively personality off the ice, made him a fan favourite and a respected presence in the room.
In Other News...
Red Wings Pettersson Buzz Comes With One Massive Catch
Frank Seravallis comments about Elias Pettersson only added more fuel to a conversation that has been hanging over the Canucks for a while. The possibility of a move involving one of Vancouvers top players is the kind of thing that gets attention fast, especially when the discussion reaches into the next few seasons and touches on teams such as Detroit, Minnesota and Dallas as possible landing spots.
For Vancouver, the real intrigue is not just whether Pettersson could be moved, but how complicated any such decision would be. His recent performance has left his trade value hard to pin down, and his contract includes a no-movement clause that gives him real control over his future, even as the speculation keeps building around a deal that has not materialized. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Have A Rare Chance But One Waiver Question Matters Most
The Canucks unusual spot at the front of the NHL waiver line gives them a chance to act before anyone else, and it has already turned the first days of waiver season into something worth watching in Vancouver. Several players were placed on waivers on Sept. 22 and 23, with all of the first days names getting through unclaimed, but the bigger question for the Canucks is less about who is available in general and more about whether one of the available options is worth using that priority on right away.
There are familiar names in the mix too, including former Canucks, along with a handful of younger players who could interest a team looking for help without giving up assets. The opportunity is real because the club gets to go first, but so is the pressure, since a waiver claim has to fit both the roster picture and the long view. For a team that rarely gets this kind of advantage, the decision feels simple on the surface and complicated where it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Camp Battle Just Got Tighter For One Final Blue Line Spot
The Canucks trimmed their camp again, sending 15 players to the AHL and junior ranks while placing three more on waivers for assignment to Abbotsford. After the latest round of cuts, Vancouvers NHL roster is down to 31 players, and that number should keep shrinking as injured players are unlikely to see preseason action. What remains is a tighter, more revealing race for spots as the group gets closer to the opening-night deadline.
For the blue line, the squeeze is especially real. With 27 players now competing for 23 roster spots, every remaining exhibition look matters, and the final defense job is suddenly even harder to separate from the pack. The Canucks have already done a substantial amount of sorting, but the next few decisions could determine which blueliner sticks with the big club and which one heads back down when the roster is finalized. [Read more 🡒]