Andrei Kuzmenko is off to a pretty nice start with his new team.
The 28-year-old winger scored on his very first shot on goal as a member of the Calgary Flames on Tuesday evening, beating Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman with a terrific shot less than five minutes into the first period.
With the Flames on an early power play, Kuzmenko entered the zone through the middle of the ice and received a nifty pass from Jonathan Huberdeau before uncorking a hefty wrister that beat Swayman upstairs.
Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri picked up the assists on Kuzmenko&#8217;s first goal as a Flame and ninth of the 2023–24 season, which came at the 4:20 mark of the first period at TD Garden in Boston.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Andrei Kuzmenko wastes no time getting his first as a Flame 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/t5OYFGY0yj">pic.twitter.com/t5OYFGY0yj</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1755023287619346739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kuzmenko scored 39 goals with the Canucks in the 2022–23 season and likely would&#8217;ve won the Calder Trophy as the NHL&#8217;s top rookie had he not been ineligible for the award due to his age.
The Canucks ultimately signed Kuzmenko to a two-year deal carrying a $5.5 million cap hit for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, but he struggled to find his footing under new head coach Rick Tocchet and was made a healthy scratch numerous times in the first half of his second year in Vancouver.
When the Canucks acquired top-six centre Elias Lindholm from the Flames late last month, they sent Kuzmenko as part of the package going the other way for the purpose of evening out the cap expenses for the two teams.
In addition to Kuzmenko, the Flames received defence prospects Joni Jurmo and Hunter Brzustewicz, as well as two selections in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. Unlike the Canucks, the Flames are currently outside the Western Conference playoff picture and are set to embark on a significant roster overhaul.
The Flames currently lead the Bruins by a 1-0 score midway through the first period of Tuesday&#8217;s game in Boston.
Elias Lindholm must have seen this, as he answered shortly after Kuzmenko&#8217;s goal by scoring on his first official shot on goal with the Canucks:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Elias Lindholm scores in his first game as a Vancouver Canuck! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/bC4vn7qZ1k">pic.twitter.com/bC4vn7qZ1k</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1755029545743425878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Andrei Kuzmenko is off to a pretty nice start with his new team.

The 28-year-old winger scored on his very first shot on goal as a member of the Calgary Flames on Tuesday evening, beating Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman with a terrific shot less than five minutes into the first period.

With the Flames on an early power play, Kuzmenko entered the zone through the middle of the ice and received a nifty pass from Jonathan Huberdeau before uncorking a hefty wrister that beat Swayman upstairs.

Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri picked up the assists on Kuzmenko's first goal as a Flame and ninth of the 2023–24 season, which came at the 4:20 mark of the first period at TD Garden in Boston.

https://twitter.com/sportsnet/status/1755023287619346739?s=46

Kuzmenko scored 39 goals with the Canucks in the 2022–23 season and likely would've won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie had he not been ineligible for the award due to his age.

The Canucks ultimately signed Kuzmenko to a two-year deal carrying a $5.5 million cap hit for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, but he struggled to find his footing under new head coach Rick Tocchet and was made a healthy scratch numerous times in the first half of his second year in Vancouver.

When the Canucks acquired top-six centre Elias Lindholm from the Flames late last month, they sent Kuzmenko as part of the package going the other way for the purpose of evening out the cap expenses for the two teams.

In addition to Kuzmenko, the Flames received defence prospects Joni Jurmo and Hunter Brzustewicz, as well as two selections in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. Unlike the Canucks, the Flames are currently outside the Western Conference playoff picture and are set to embark on a significant roster overhaul.

The Flames currently lead the Bruins by a 1-0 score midway through the first period of Tuesday's game in Boston.

Elias Lindholm must have seen this, as he answered shortly after Kuzmenko's goal by scoring on his first official shot on goal with the Canucks:

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1755029545743425878

WATCH: Andrei Kuzmenko and Elias Lindholm score on their first shots with their new teams

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