What Happens Next With Flames And Struggling Winger?

Keeping Andrei Kuzmenko in the press box isn't beneficial to the player or the Calgary Flames. The talented but struggling winger is an expiring commodity.

The Flames are in an interesting position, having essentially received Kuzmenko — who scored 39 goals as an NHL rookie just a couple of years ago — as a throw-in asset and salary dump in the Elias Lindholm deal with the Vancouver Canucks last season.

So whatever they get from the 28-year-old winger either in the lineup or on the market is gravy. Ideally, though, they'd be double dipping.

Kuzmenko scored 14 goals and 25 points in 29 games with the Calgary Flames last season after joining them in the trade. They could use that confident, productive version of the player to boost his value for this year's trade deadline while accumulating some wins along the way.

Unfortunately, things have not gone well this year. Kuzmenko has just one goal through 25 games this season and has been sitting out the last two as a healthy scratch. There's no guarantee he gets back in against Dallas on Sunday when the Flames face the Stars.

“Sometimes a player just needs to take a step back and catch his breath a little bit," Flames head coach Ryan Huska said about the decision to bench Kuzmenko. "I think Andrei’s in that category right now."

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The Flames went 1-0-1 in that two-game homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues, with prospects Walker Duehr and Jakob Pelletier coming into the lineup after being called up from the AHL Calgary Wranglers.

It's tough to imagine the team sitting him out until there's a deal made because his value is low at the moment. Kuzmenko may rotate in for some more opportunities, but it does seem like there's a countdown with the clock ticks getting louder.

There's no doubt the Flames will be able to move Kuzmenko out and teams will be willing to take a shot at the guy who scored one shy of 40 with the Canucks.

What they're willing to pay, however, will depend on what happens next with Kuzmenko and the Flames.

At least they both want the same thing; more production.