Andrei Kuzmenko is joining the Penguins on a one-year, $5 million contract. Ronald Martinez / Getty ImagesJuly 1, 2026 3:08 pm EDT Updated The Pittsburgh Penguins have replaced Anthony Mantha.One season after signing Mantha to a show-me contract, the Penguins opted to let him hit free agency and signed another talented forward, Andrei Kuzmenko, who most recently played for the Los Angeles Kings.The Penguins and the 30-year-old Kuzmenko have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract, according to league sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to address negotiations that aren’t public.Kuzmenko has only four seasons of NHL experience because he played for a handful of years in his native Russia in the KHL before coming to North America.
He was quite a sensation during his first NHL season, lighting it up with 39 goals and 74 points with the Vancouver Canucks. His production dropped in the following two seasons, when he spent time playing for the Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Kings.In 271 NHL games, he has registered 85 goals and 182 points.He has been traded three times in the past two seasons.Jul 1, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
