It might be just a short sample size, but in six games, Andrei Kuzmenko has been raking in the points since joining the Flyers. Since being traded to Philly, he has two goals and three assists. In comparison, Morgan Frost has a similar stat line in 11 games for Calgary while Joel Farabee has just one goal.
Kuzmenko seems more relaxed in Philly. Maybe the expectations were too high in Calgary or maybe he just didn't jive with his coaches or line mates. Either way, he's doing fine here as a Flyer.
However, he is a free agent at the end of this season. He also turned 29 years old on February 4th. This begs us to answer the question, is Kuzmenko worth holding onto past this season or is he someone the Flyers should shop around now?
The Case For Trading
For whatever reason, he is hot right now. Hockey is a streaky sport. You want to do whatever is hot. If a backup goalie is hotter than the starter, you go with what is hot for now.
In the case of Kuzemenko, he's found his scoring touch again. He notched 15 points in 37 games in Calgary. He has scored a third of those points in just six games in Philly. He is a guy who scored 39 goals as a 26-year-old rookie just two years ago. We know he can score. We know he has talent.
A team looking for a rental player to get them through the Stanley Cup playoffs could take a chance on him. He isn't going to bring a first rounder, but a mid-level pick or upper-level prospect could be a good price for him. If Kuzmenko isn't going to stick around, this might be a good option. It might be a good idea for the Flyers management to figure out what his intentions are after this season.
Or if Kuzmenko does want to stick around, but wants to go to a contender, the Flyers could do both. They could trade him, get something decent, and then re-sign him in the offseason. They have done this before. A few years ago they traded Justin Braun to the Rangers and re-signed him that offseason.
The Case For Keeping
Let's be honest. The Flyers have not had a great history when it comes to Russian players. With Matvei Michkov, Ivan Fedotov, Alexsei Kolosov, Egor Zamula, and Kuzmenko, they have more Russian players on the roster than at any point in the team's history. They could help each other adapt to NHL life, and that could make them happier to stay here. After all, Carolina has become a haven for Finnish players.
This is important. If Kuzmenko bonds with these guys and is happy here, it may help Zamula and Michkov in their development. Having an older player mentor and teach the young guys, especially if they have an ethnic bond, could help get the team closer together.
It could also attract other players from Russia who are equally, if not more, talented. If Daniel Briere and Keith Jones are serious in wanting to make Philly a popular destination for hockey players again, this could be a starting point.
A lot of that could depend on how much he wants or believes he is worth. After his great rookie year, he scored just 22 last season and only six this year. He's not going to earn top dollars. He could be a great additional piece that could come at a bargain price, especially if he is enjoying his time here.