Vasily Podkolzin dropped a bomb and revealed why Andrei Podkolzin was traded
Vasily Podkolzin explains why Andrei Kuzmenko was traded, and it's because he was struggling with the Vancouver Canucks System.
Former Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko struggled to fit into Rick Tocchet's system, leading to his trade to the Calgary Flames. Kuzmenko, who thrived under Bruce Boudreau, faced difficulties adjusting to Tocchet's style during the 2023-24 season.
Current Canucks forward Vasily Podkolzin explained in an interview with Match TV that Andrei Kuzmenko couldn't meet the new coaching demands:
"These are the demands of the new coach, Rick Tocchett. Kuzya didn't quite fit into the new style of play. But he was traded to Calgary, giving him what he needed. He got playing time and gained trust. And in Vancouver, the focus is now on fast and powerful hockey. Everything is from defence, with minimum mistakes. In some places, you need to play simpler. You just need to fulfill these demands. And Kuzya didn't find the point of contact that Tocchett demanded," Podkolzin said.
Kuzmenko flourished with the Flames, nearly averaging a point per game after the trade, with 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 29 games. He has one year left on his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent in July 2025.
Source: Match TV
Vasily Podkolzin reveals why Andrei Kuzmenko was traded from the Canucks
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