‘Vancouver, thank you’: Kuzmenko grateful as Canucks sign fan favourite to bargain deal

VANCOUVER — Andrei Kuzmenko took a hair cut. Just not, you know, his hair, which is growing as quickly as his bank account.

The Vancouver Canucks’ talented first-year player accepted less money on his two-year bridge deal with the National Hockey League team, $5.5-million-US per season, than he could have commanded as a 27-year-old unrestricted free agent this summer.

Only in Vancouver would a bargain contract for one of the team’s most exciting, engaging and popular players be fiercely debated and criticized by some who would have preferred the Canucks to harvest Kuzmenko’s trade value by, say, downgrading him to a late first-round draft pick in June.

The argument reflects both the market and the organization that enthralls and enrages it. The Canucks will miss the playoffs this season for the seventh time in eight seasons. And, really, barring a Jack Adams-type year from new head coach Rick Tocchet AND a return to full health and Vezina Trophy form by goalie Thatcher Demko, there is no reasonable basis to think the Canucks will suddenly rocket up the standings next season.

But, of course, they still need to entice and entertain customers who actually purchase tickets at Rogers Arena, and Kuzmenko seems vital to this enterprise over the next couple of years since the Canucks are expected to move captain Bo Horvat before the March 3 trade deadline and offload winger Brock Boeser when they find a taker.

With 21 goals and 43 points in his first 47 NHL games, the Russian winger has quickly become must-see viewing. And that’s with his helmet on. Away from the ice, when he allows his bushel of hair to erupt skyward above his dimpled smile, Kuzmenko is even more popular.

“Yes, there's a lot of people: 'Please change haircut,’” Kuzmenko told reporters Friday morning after the Canucks skated ahead of Friday night’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. “Maybe after season, yes, why not?”

If you were getting a point per game as a rookie with that salad, why would you let a barber near it?

Because “it's terrible,” Horvat explained. “I've seen a lot of comments saying now you can afford a haircut. He's got to do something with it because it's getting out of hand.”

Horvat is genuinely happy for Kuzmenko even if this new salary commitment by Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin, who announced the extension Thursday morning but wasn’t scheduled to speak to the media until post-game on Friday, further decreases the likelihood that Vancouver’s captain remains with the team.

“He brings a lot of energy to the crowd when he scores and he's been a fan favourite ever since he got here,” Horvat said. “He is a great person and to have his family here during it all, I think is pretty special to him. Happy to have him for two more years.

“You could tell right from the beginning he had a lot of skill. Whether it translated to the NHL or not, it was going to be up to him and he's obviously handled it greatly.”

Two games into his coaching tenure, Tocchet said: “We are excited that we have him. There's work to do with him to be a complete player. But the one thing he is he can score. We're excited about that. Around the net, he is a bull.”

Kuzmenko’s parents flew from Russia a couple of weeks ago to visit (and cook) for their son, and the Canuck mentioned several times Friday the significance to his family of his contract extension.

Alexander and Galina Kuzmenko thanked the Canucks and the city in an open letter released Thursday by the player’s agent, Dan Milstein. Milstein also Tweeted a photo of Kuzmenko standing in front of his locker, and asked if there are any decent barbershops in Vancouver.

“I'm happy,” Kuzmenko said. “Yesterday, Vancouver, thank you. Is important moment for not me, it's more for my family. Yes, it's my father, my first coach.”

Kuzmenko said he has been visiting his parents’ apartment nightly for home-cooked meals. He said his mom and dad have been touring Vancouver by bike.

Asked what he might do with $11 million, Kuzmenko thought about it a long time.

“Difficult answer,” he said. “Hmm, one second, this is important answer. I have money, it does work, yes. For me, it's not important moment — money. Yes, it's good, I like it. But it's not first moment for me. Money is the second moment. It's my contract.”

Having chosen the Canucks over 31 other NHL teams as a free agent out of the Kontinental Hockey League last summer, Kuzmenko has experienced years-worth of drama and turmoil in his first four months in Vancouver. Bruce Boudreau was fired as head coach on Sunday.

So why was Kuzmenko so eager to stay?

“I'm ready. . . for any situation in hockey,” he said. “I remember I play for CSKA (Moscow in the KHL) and I trade to SKA St. Petersburg (in 2018). For me, it's not surprise, it's my work. I'm ready for all moments.

“I say my whole life is not easy. I like to (solve) problems. For me, it's new page. And new page is very interesting. Vancouver is a good place, good players, good staff. We can work for a good future.”

And if it doesn’t work out here, Kuzmenko can still pick his team as a UFA in 2025. Until then, the Canucks retain a valuable, tradeable asset who brings fans to games.