Vancouver’s Russian striker Vasily Podkolzin told that the Canadian team’s style of play has changed a lot under new head coach Rick Tocquette, which is why the forward Andrei Kuzmenko performance has decreased.
Kuzmenko, 28, scored 21 (8 goals + 13 assists) points in 43 games for Vancouver last NHL season, after which he was traded to Calgary, where he had 25 (14 goals + 11) points in 29 games.
— They don’t trust you in the NHL; they send you to a farm club. When will this end?
— You see, I came to Vancouver at a time when the team was rebuilding. Three coaches changed. Many factors had an impact, and somewhere, maybe, I didn’t show myself very well. But I know I can play good hockey. And I’m going to show it. It takes a little more confidence and playing time. But I signed a new contract with the Canucks until 2026. The best I can get in this situation. I have one desire now: to prepare well, return to Vancouver and show good hockey.
— We see how the club’s course changed using the example of Andrei Kuzmenko. Under one coach he scored 39 goals in the championship, but under another he was not needed.
— These are the requirements of the new coach Rick Tocquette. Kuzya did not adapt at all to the new style of play. But he was traded to Calgary, giving him what he needed. He gained playing time, gained confidence. And in “Vancouver” they now rely on fast and powerful hockey. Everything is defensive, with a minimum of mistakes. Somewhere, we need to play easier. You just need to meet these conditions. And, apparently, Kuzya did not find the common ground required by Toquette, Podkolzin told .
Last season, 23-year-old Vasily Podkolzin scored 2 (0+2) points in 19 games for Vancouver.
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I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
