PuckSleuth
62Pittsburgh Penguins · Left wing · Shoots R
Andrei Kuzmenko
Age 30 · 6'0" · 186 lb · Born in Yakutsk, RUS
Cap hit
$5M
4.8% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
M-NTC
10-team no-trade list
Surplus value
−$147K
vs. $4.853M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
52
Goals
13
18.8% shooting
Assists
12
3 primary
Points
25
0.48 per game
TOI/GP
14:55
PP 2:59 · PK 0:00
xGF%
53.8
5v5, +6.9 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.49
per game
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-4
Blocks 14 · Hits 18
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23 vs COL · L 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10:30 | 2:06 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.02 |
| Feb 25 vs VGK · L 6-4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13:35 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 1 | 1 | +1 | +1.38 |
| Feb 5 @ VGK · L 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8:23 | 3:55 | 0:00 | — | 67 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.11 |
| Feb 4 vs SEA · L 4-2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 17:57 | 3:34 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2.52 |
| Feb 1 @ CAR · OTL 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14:05 | 1:38 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.17 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 595 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
80th percentile
72nd percentile
91st percentile
83rd percentile
58th percentile
75th percentile
43rd percentile
78th percentile
77th percentile
56th percentile
84th percentile
17th percentile
27th percentile
64th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleElite rush attacker
Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26
Kuzmenko is a devastating transition player who generates chances at an elite pace through aggressive forechecking and carries the puck into dangerous positions. His shot volume, playmaking, and overall physical presence lag significantly behind peers, making him a specialist rather than a complete forward.
- Shooting volume
- 37
- Playmaking
- 17
- Zone entries(est.)
- 94
- Forechecking
- 18
- Physicality
- 8
- Defensive impact
- 34
- Puck management
- 12
- Speed
- 6
Where he shoots from
Slot 50% · Mid-range 31% · Perimeter 19%(120 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 94th percentile in rush chances, consistently attacks off the rush
- 53.8% expected goals share shows positive impact on offense despite low volume
- 50% of shots from high-danger slot area
Watch-outs
- Only 6th percentile in speed limits his ability to separate from defenders
- 17th percentile in playmaking creates fewer assists despite heavy ice time
- 8th percentile physicality means limited net-front presence and board play
Similar style: Reilly Smith, Joel Farabee (CGY)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 52 GP
Season total +25.7, or +0.49 per game.
- Scoring
- +19.6
- Shooting
- +5.2
- 5-on-5 goals
- -0.3
- Defense
- +0.6
- Physical play
- +1.1
- Puck battles
- -1.9
- Penalties
- +1.5
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Los Angeles Kings | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 17.6 | 18:15 | — |
| 2025-26 | Los Angeles Kings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 10:30 | — |
| Career | 2 seasons | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 17.6 | 17:09 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.
Usage
Last game: @ PHI, Sep 30
Not on a regular line last game.
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Forward Andrei Kuzmenko makes Penguins debut following father’s death
TribLIVE.com · Oct 4
- NHL Status Report: Kuzmenko makes debut for Penguins
NHL.com · Oct 4
- Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko speaks on decision to switch jersey number following father’s death
WPXI · Oct 4
- Andrei Kuzmenko Explains Why He Changed His Jersey Number With Penguins
SportsNet Pittsburgh · Oct 3
- Penguins F Andrei Kuzmenko switches jersey to No. 62 to honor father killed in bear attack in Russia
The Tribune-Democrat · Oct 3
- Andrei Kuzmenko to Wear No. 62 in Honor of His Late Father
RG.org · Oct 3
- KUZMENKO BACK AT PRACTICE AS PENS PREP FOR MONTREAL
WCCS AM1160 & 101.1FM · Oct 3
- Andrei Kuzmenko made a statement on his father's death and the last week:
DK Pittsburgh Sports · Oct 3
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.66 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 21.0 mph
- 9th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 10
- Hardest shot
- 92.3 mph
- 91st pct
- Distance
- 112.4 mi
- OZ time
- 45.4%
- 89th pct
- DZ time
- 36.6%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 30, forwards typically produce 84% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | PIT | $5M | 4.8% |
UFA after 2026-27. M-NTC (10-team list). $5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).