Kings activate Andrei Kuzmenko ahead of series against Avalanche

Kuzmenko, 30, has not played since February 25th’s 6-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to a knee injury he suffered in that game. He soon thereafter underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

In 52 games played this season, the Russian national put up 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points.

The Kings are hoping Kuzmenko will provide a repeat of his performance in last year’s postseason, when he had three goals and three assists for six points in six games during Los Angeles’ first-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Los Angeles acquired Kuzmenko, along with a seventh-round draft pick, at last season’s trade deadline from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a third-round draft pick. The Kings re-signed him to a one-year, $4.3 million contract this past offseason. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

After a productive five seasons in the KHL, including his 2021-22 season with St. Petersburg SKA when he had 20 goals and 33 assists for 53 points in 45 games, Kuzmenko began his NHL career by signing with the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the 2022-23 season. He had an impressive first season with the Canucks, notching 39 goals and 35 assists for 74 points in 81 games. Midway through the 2023-24 season, he was traded to the Calgary Flames as part of the package sent in exchange for forward Elias Lindholm. In January of last year, the Flames traded him to the Flyers in a multi-player deal.

The Kings open their first-round series against the Avalanche on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST.