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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Forward Andrei Kuzmenko signed a two-year contract extension with the Canucks on Thursday.

The deal has an average annual value of $5.5 million.

The 26-year-old Kuzmenko has played in 47 games for the Canucks this season with 21 goals and 22 assists, four penalty minutes and a plus-4 defensive ranking.

Kuzmenko ranks second on the team in goals and power-play goals (nine). His 43 points are tied for third, while his 32 even-strength points (12 goals, 20 assists) rank second. He leads all Vancouver skaters in shooting rate (24.7%) and ranks third in the NHL in that category (minimum 20 games).

He leads all first-year NHL players in almost every offensive category, including goals, assists, points, points per game (0.91), power-play goals and power-play points.

Kuzmenko has had 14 multipoint games this season (second on the Canucks), highlighted by his first career hat trick and season-high four-point game against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 3.

A native of Yakutsk, Russia, Kuzmenko spent his first eight professional seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League with CSKA Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg, getting 200 points (85 goals, 115 assists) in 315 regular-season games. He set career highs in goals (20), assists (33) and points (53) last season, ranking second in the league in scoring.

Kuzmenko has represented his country on the international stage on multiple occasions, totaling 16 points (10 goals, 6 assists) and six penalty minutes in 37 games.

He was originally signed by Vancouver to a one-year, entry-level contract on July 13.

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Maple Leafs vs. Panthers (May 11, 2025) Live Score – ESPN

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Maple Leafs vs. Panthers (May 11, 2025) Live Score - ESPN

— Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, including on the tiebreaking goal by Alexander Petrovic that was finally confirmed after a lengthy review as the Dallas Stars beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 on Sunday to take 2-1 lead in the second-round…

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Day after 21-0 loss, Rockies fire manager Black

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Day after 21-0 loss, Rockies fire manager Black

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies fired manager Bud Black on Sunday, one day after losing by 21 runs to the San Diego Padres at Coors Field.

The Rockies are off to a major-league-worst 7-33 start even after defeating the Padres 9-3 on Sunday to salvage one game in the home series and snap an eight-game skid. Third-base coach Warren Schaeffer will serve as interim manager for the rest of the season, and hitting coach Clint Hurdle will be the interim bench coach.

The Rockies, who also fired bench coach Mike Redmond, will open a road trip Monday night against the Texas Rangers and try to turn a corner. Even with Sunday’s victory, Colorado has the worst 40-game start since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who were 6-34.

“Our play so far this season, especially coming off the last two seasons, has been unacceptable. Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better,” Rockies owner, chairman and CEO Dick Monfort said in a statement. “While we all share responsibility in how this season has played out, these changes are necessary. We will use the remainder of 2025 to improve where we can on the field and to evaluate all areas of our operation so we can properly turn the page into the next chapter of Rockies Baseball.”

Black was in his ninth year as Rockies manager and had a career record with Colorado of 544-690. He is the winningest manager in franchise history.

Before Saturday night’s 21-0 drubbing, Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt backed Black, telling The Denver Post that he believed the season still could be turned around.

“I think our guys are still playing hard, and that’s what I look at,” Schmidt told the Post. “Guys are working hard every day; they come with energy, for the most part. I don’t think we are [at that point of firing Black]. Guys still believe in what we are doing and where we are headed. We are all frustrated.”

Schmidt said he was looking for “growth” as the season goes along.

“I feel for the fans; I feel for the people around here,” he said. “I know we are better than we have played, but we are not good right now. We have to battle through it and get to the other side. There are still a lot of games left. I think we can turn it around, but it’s going to take a whole group to do it. The guys are working to get better.”

Colorado was 19½ games out of first place in the NL West before Sunday’s win. The Rockies have been outscored by 128 runs this season. The only team since 1900 with a worse run differential through 40 games was the 2023 Oakland Athletics (-144).

The seventh manager in team history, Black initially found success with Colorado when he led the Rockies to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018. They haven’t finished with a winning record since and are coming off two straight 100-loss seasons. Colorado has a .353 winning percentage since 2023.

Black’s contract was set to expire after the season. He signed a one-year extension in October.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Follow live: Jets, Stars battle in Game 3 as series shifts to Dallas

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