Counting Down the Top 50 NHL UFA Skaters: Andrei Kuzmenko a Wildcard

Every summer brings a chance for NHL teams to change their outlook by dipping into the free agent market. While there are not always difference-making deals getting done, this summer offers a rather deep crop of high-end talent available when the free agent market kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on July 13.

Looking far ahead to the 2022-2023 NHL season, we will break down the Top 50 skaters available via unrestricted free agency starting today with skaters 50-41 (stats from regular season and courtesy of Natural Stat Trick).

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50. Tyler Motte, RW, N.Y. Rangers (7 goals, 8 assists, 45.9 Corsi for (CF)%, 48.4 Expected Goals for (xGF)%, 58 games played)

A gritty 27-year-old checking winger who plays hard but also tends to miss time with injuries. Motte ought to be a good fit as a penalty-killing forward on a contender.

49. Troy Stecher, D, Los Angeles (1 G, 2 A, 49.0 CF%, 49.2 xGF%, 29 GP)

Although he is undersized, Stecher is a quality right-shot defenseman who battles hard and has some puck skills. Injuries have limited the 28-year-old to 73 games over the past two seasons.

48. Jan Rutta, D, Tampa Bay (3 G, 15 A, 52.3 CF%, 54.1 xGF%, 76 GP)

Rutta produced a career-high 18 points in 76 games during the regular season. Looking to win a third Stanley Cup, he is a serviceable right-shot defenseman and the 31-year-old is probably a better fit on a third pairing than his typical deployment with the Lightning, which is alongside Victor Hedman.

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47. Ian Cole, D, Carolina (2 G, 17 A, 58.0 CF%, 56.5 xGF%, 75 GP)

A physical defenseman who will hit and block shots, Cole also tends to keep the puck moving in the right direction when he is on the ice, which makes the 33-year-old a steady option.

46. Andreas Athanasiou, LW, Los Angeles (11 G, 6 A, 49.4 CF%, 51.7 xGF%, 28 GP)

While Athanasiou is suspect defensively and is not great at getting his linemates involved, he can create offense all on his own with his speed and skill and is coming off a season in which he scored 11 goals in 28 games.

Athanasiou might not be a top choice for teams looking for an offensive boost, but the 27-year-old winger should still be in demand.

45. Marcus Johansson, LW, Washington (9 G, 20 A, 50.6 CF%, 51.6 xGF%, 69 GP)

Injuries have been a more common concern in recent seasons for the versatile 31-year-old forward. Johansson remains an effective middle-six winger who can distribute the puck and play a complementary role alongside skilled linemates.

44. Justin Schultz, D, Washington (4 G, 19 A, 51.3 CF%, 51.5 xGF%, 74 GP)

The 31-year-old right-shot defenseman saw a reduced role in Washington this season and is never going to be a punishing defensive presence. He remains an effective puck mover who can still quarterback a second power play unit.

43. Ilya Lyubushkin, D, Toronto (2 G, 13 A, 48.5 CF%, 48.4 xGF%, 77 GP)

While his game is one-dimensional, there is a market for a third-pair defenseman that is eager to provide a physical presence in a strictly defensive role. The 28-year-old bruiser played a career-high 17:27 per game in Arizona and Toronto last season.

42. Vladislav Namestnikov, LW, Dallas (16 G, 14 A, 46.5 CF%, 49.5 xGF%, 75 GP)

A veteran forward who can move around the lineup, Namestnikov hit the 30-point threshold last season for the fifth time in his career. Coupled with a strong defensive game, the 29-year-old still offers value in a supporting role and could be a relative bargain on the free agent market.

41. Andrei Kuzmenko, LW, SKA St. Petersburg (20 G, 33 A, 45 GP)

Generally, this list is about identifying the top NHL free agents. But it is hard to ignore a 26-year-old free agent coming from the KHL, in part because players from the KHL tend to have a relatively strong statistical translation upon moving to the NHL.

Kuzmenko scoring 53 points in 45 KHL games offers some encouraging signs that he could be a legit scoring winger in the NHL.

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