The Philadelphia Flyers’ first move on deadline day did not involve Scott Laughton – he was the second – as they moved forward Andrei Kuzmenko to the Los Angeles Kings for a 2027 third round pick.
Kuzmenko’s salary was also 50% retained and the Flyers are sending a 2025 seventh round pick back to the Kings.
The Russian forward was initially acquired by the Flyers from the Calgary Flames on the 31st of January in a move that also brought Jakob Pelletier to Philadelphia, while shipping out Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee.
His stint with the Flyers was very short-lived despite his immediate impact, especially on the top power play unit. He also formed a solid trio alongside Laughton and Travis Konecny at even-strength and showed quick chemistry with Matvei Michkov.
Kuzmenko recorded 4 goals and 15 points in 37 games for the Flames, was scratched several times, held a -7, and averaged only 14:49 TOI. With the Flyers he scored 2 goals and 5 points in just 7 games, was a -5, and averaged 17:08 TOI.
Now with the Kings he will have an opportunity to participate in the postseason with the organization firmly in third place in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles sits 5 points back of Edmonton with 2 games in hand and are 3 points up on Calgary who hold a Wild Card spot.
The Kings have been operating with an 11/7 formation quite often this season so we will be curious to see if Kuzmenko’s acquisition changes that trend. Their top-9 is relatively loaded as well, which will make for interesting decisions ahead.
For the Flyers, recouping any asset for a soon-to-be expiring contract is always a good thing. A third round pick 2 years from now isn’t necessarily ideal but building a treasure chest of picks can always help in different areas.
With 50% of his salary retained, the Flyers have no more retention spots they can use this year with the other slots belonging to Laughton and Kevin Hayes.
It also leaves them with more cap space and wiggle room with half of Kuzmenko’s salary off the books as well as Farabee and Frost’s deals from earlier in the season. It could afford the club to get a little creative in the last few hours of the deadline, should they choose to be.
All eyes are now firmly set on Laughton and to some degree Rasmus Ristolainen as the market has been intensifying in recent days. The Flyers have yet to budge from their lofty prices on Ristolainen while Laughton is reportedly being dealt to Toronto.
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