After making several moves including shipping Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks and picking up Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames, the Canucks are cementing as a potential conference contender.
Over the course of this season, he has been demoted to the 4th line as head coach Rick Tocchet's expectations have not been met. Canucks General Manager Patrick Alllvin along with President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford may look to move Kuzmenko as he holds a $5.5 million cap hit which cannot be on the 4th line.
If they choose to move on from Kuzmenko, this will signal the fanbase that the old ways are out and a new order is in. With the early season success, the front office is clearly fully committed to making the team better by any means necessary.