Kings’ Andrei Kuzmenko out week-to-week with torn meniscus
Los Angeles Kings forward Andrei Kuzmenko has been placed on injured reserve and is considered week-to-week after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus, the club announced Saturday morning.
Kuzmenko, 30, has 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games with the Kings this year. The Yakutsk, Russia product is under contract with the club through the end of the season at a $4.3 million cap hit.
In a corresponding move on Saturday, the Kings recalled defense prospect Angus Booth from their top minor-league affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Booth, 21, has one goal and 10 points in 42 American Hockey League games this season; the Kings originally picked him in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Forward Andrei Kuzmenko underwent successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He has been placed on injured reserve (IR) and is listed as week-to-week. Additionally, defenseman Angus Booth has been recalled from the @ontarioreign (AHL). 📰: bit.ly/4064klR
An undrafted player, Kuzmenko began his professional career in the KHL and emerged as a star over parts of eight seasons with CSKA Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg.
The 5’11” winger became a highly sought-after free agent in the 2022 offseason and ended up signing an entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks, with whom he scored 39 goals and 74 points as a 26-year-old “rookie” in the 2022-23 season.
However, Kuzmenko struggled to maintain his form the following year and was scratched multiple times by then-head coach Rick Tocchet, which led to the Canucks trading him to the Calgary Flames as part of a package of assets used to acquire Elias Lindholm.
Kuzmenko collected 18 goals and 40 points in 66 games over parts of two seasons in Calgary before being traded twice more in early 2025, first to the Philadelphia Flyers, and then to the Kings just over a month later.
Through 271 career games over parts of four NHL seasons with the Canucks, Flames, Flyers, and Kings, Kuzmenko has collected 85 goals and 182 points. He added three goals and six points in six playoff contests with L.A. in 2025.