Fan favorite Los Angeles Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko had a tumultous season wearing the black and silver in this past regular season.
Kuzmenko made an immediate impact on the Kings' offensive production after arriving in Los Angeles from the Vancouver Canucks at the 2025 trade deadline a couple of seasons ago. There was a lot of excitement about his expectations to contribute offensively for the Kings going into this past regular season after he signed a one-year contract in the 2025 offseason.
He was a potent fit in the top-six forward group as a playmaker on the wing, alongside the likes of Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe, and/or center captain Anze Kopitar. Kuzmenko helped to improve the production of the Kings' special teams top unit on the power play down the stretch in the 2024-25 season.
Andrei Kuzmenko's performance for the Los Angeles Kings in the 2025-26 season
Kuzmenko had an up and down experience to start this past regular season for the Kings offensively. He only registered three goals and single-digit total points in the season's first 22 games for the Kings. Injuries limited Kuzmenko's impact and effectiveness in the Kings' roster lineup down the stretch this past regular season.
The inconsistent production from Kuzmenko ultimately resulted in several healthy scratches. I think part of the reason why Kuzmenko was scratched was his offensive production, but I also think the team's struggles on that end of the ice can't be blamed just on one player for last season.
While Kuzmenko was still efficient on special teams, the Kings' top power play unit on special teams was not very good this past season. Kuzmenko led the team with eight power play goals in the 2025-26 season.
His season was disrupted due to an injury just before the Kings made the coaching change this past regular season, which limited Kuzmenko's ability to regain his form and momentum before the playoffs.
Kuzmenko finished the 2025-26 season with fewer than a half dozen even strength goals at 5-on-5, and he only played one game in the postseason for the Kings in the first round vs. the Colorado Avalanche.
2025-26 Season Grade: C
Kuzmenko signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins on a one-year contract deal, worth $5 million in base value this offseason. He will be taking his talents to Pittsburgh after spending this past couple of years in Los Angeles as a key contributor for the Kings' offense on the wing.
Kuzmenko's departure in free agency this offseason shouldn't completely overshadow the contributions he made in the offensive zone and on special teams on the power play in this past couple of years in Los Angeles. The Kings probably made the right decision in the long term by using some of the additional cap flexibility by Kuzmenko walking in free agency to sign proven veterans like Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, Scott Laughton, and Corey Perry.
Add us as a preferred source on Google