Although it is probably way too early to ponder how the deadline acquisition of Andrey Kuzmenko will play out for the LA Kings in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, I am going to do it anyway. Fans and followers of both the 2012 and 2014 Cup winning teams are well aware of what bringing in the right piece at the right time can do for one’s team, especially when it’s the likes of Jeff Carter and Marion Gaborik.
After Game 1 of the first round series with the Edmonton Oilers, “Kuzy” has already earned a place in the conversation with these former deadline legends by registering three points (1 G, 2 A) in LA’s thrilling 6-5 win over the Oilers. By comparison, Carter had two assists against Vancouver in his playoff debut with the Kings, whereas Gaborik did not find the scoresheet until Game 3 of the first round series against the San Jose Sharks in 2014.
In addition to his eight goals and five assists in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, Carter’s six goals down the stretch in the month of March were a boon to the offensively challenged Kings that year. Without Carter’s impact, it’s doubtful whether LA would have been able to squeak in as the Western Conference eighth seed at all that year.
While this year’s squad was already securely in a playoff spot by the time Kuzmenko arrived, the 29-year-old Russian’s contribution went a long way in wresting second place in the Pacific Division away from Edmonton. For a team having set a franchise record with 31 wins at home, having home ice in this series could turn out to be huge. In 20 regular season games with the Kings, Kuzmenko put up 17 points (5 G, 12 A) and injected much needed new life into the Kings’ moribund power play.
With his first period goal 2:49 into Game 1, Andrei Kuzmenko scored the Kings’ fastest game-opening goal in the playoffs since Marian Gaborik (0:34) in Game 2 of the 2014 Second Round (per @NHLPR). pic.twitter.com/TycstotTcX
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) April 22, 2025
Marion Gaborik made a similar impact in 2014 when he put up 16 points over the final 19 regular season games before exploding in the playoffs, in route to LA’s second Stanley Cup in three seasons. The Slovak sniper would lead LA with 14 playoff goals, two of those coming against crosstown rivals Anaheim: one to tie the game with just seven seconds remaining in the third and the second to win it in overtime.
On May 3, 2014, the Freeway Face-Off extended into the post season as Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks met for the first time in the playoffs. Marian Gaborik scored the game-tying goal late in the 3rd and scored the game winner in OT to give the Kings a 3-2 win in Game 1. pic.twitter.com/QNycNmw3IU
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) May 3, 2019
Could another offensively gifted European leaving a John Tortorella-coached team for LA at the deadline work out well for the Kings again? Much too early to say, but at the very least, things are off to an excellent start.
Read the full article here
