Andrei Kuzmenko was traded to the Los Angeles Kings by the Philadelphia Flyers for a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft on Friday.
The Flyers also sent a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Kings and will retain 50 percent of Kuzmenko’s remaining salary.
Kuzmenko is in the last of a two-year, $11 million contract ($5.5 million average annual value) he signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 26, 2023, and can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Los Angeles (31-20-9) is third in the Pacific Division, three points ahead of the Calgary Flames.
Kuzmenko had been acquired by the Flyers in a trade with the Flames on Jan. 30, along with forward Jakob Pelletier, for forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, and had five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games with Philadelphia.
Kings general manager Rob Blake said Kuzmenko is well suited to help the Los Angeles power play, which is tied for 29th in the NHL (15.0 percent).
“That’s one of the specialities with his shot," Blake said, "and the history of him in the last couple years, previous to this year, with the scoring ability. Maybe get a different look to our power play and give us a different offensive feel to that. We’ve tried some other players, but that is what he does, yes.”
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty agreed.
“Definitely there’s no secret our power play has struggled all year," Doughty said. "Maybe a little bit better as of late, but still not even close to where we want to be. So, yeah, adding a guy like that should improve the power play instantly, and the power play can win us games, and that’s what it needs to do.”
The 29-year-old forward has 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 44 games this season.
“Good kid, full of energy, very skilled,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said of Kuzmenko. “I liked his energy. … The book on him is the inconsistency. He’s really good and then there’s some struggles. I do believe that happened. But it’s been a good experience for me with him, and I hope for him with us trying to find his game. You have a skilled guy like that, maybe he connects with a player like that in L.A. and it helps him. I wish him the best.”
The Flyers (27-28-8), who have lost their past two games, are five points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Signed by Vancouver as an undrafted free agent July 13, 2022, Kuzmenko has 140 points (67 goals, 73 assists) in 197 games for the Canucks, Flames and Flyers.
Givani Smith was also traded to the Flyers from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Erik Johnson.
Smith had no points in 13 games with the Avalanche this season; selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (No. 46) of the 2016 NHL Draft, he has 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 168 games with the Red Wings, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks and Avalanche.
Johnson had three points (one goal, two assists) in 22 games with Colorado this season. Selected by the St. Louis Blues with the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, the 36-year-old has 346 points (94 goals, 252 assists) in 1,009 games with the Blues, Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres and Flyers.
NHL.com independent correspondent Dan Greenspan contributed to this report
