On Friday, the two newest members of the Philadelphia Flyers, Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier, finally joined their new teammates on the ice at South Jersey over a week after they were acquired from the Calgary Flames. The players have been through an ordeal sorting through visa issues and then traveling through bad weather to get to Philadelphia.
“We left Calgary (on) Wednesday,” Pelletier said. “We were supposed to fly here at nine yesterday.” As airline schedules often do, the traveling duo had a flight canceled and another one rescheduled to the late afternoon before they finally hopped on a plane for the almost two-hour flight bound for Philly. The newest Flyers arrived around the second period of yesterday’s 4-3 loss to Washington.
Jakob Pelletier Brings Blue Collar Work Ethic
It’s been an interesting week for Philly’s newest Flyers. “Feels great to be here, to be honest,” Pelletier said. “It’s been a rough week… been by myself a bit.” During the season, players are around friends or teammates near-daily. The 23-year-old winger has some family around now that he’s arrived in Philly. “My dad was here last night,” Pelletier said. “He drove yesterday morning, and my brothers are supposed to come tomorrow. It’s nice.”
Tomorrow, the Flyers host the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final game before a two-day break in NHL action. So, what can fans expect from the new #22 in Orange and Black? “I’m a dog on a bone,” the 26th overall pick from the 2019 draft described himself. “I’m a guy that plays each shift like it’s the last one. I’m not the biggest guy… but I’m going to do everything in my power to win each game here.”
Andrei Kuzmenko Hopes to Help Flyers Win
The newest Russian Flyers player also just wanted to land in Philly and return to a regular hockey schedule. “Seven days with no practice with teams,” Andrei Kuzmenko said. “Just wait, wait, wait. I really want to play. I miss practice with (the) team. I miss the guys and the routine.” The 29-year-old forward chuckled at the fact he now has another extended break after just one game in Philadelphia. “After tomorrow, another break. Why? But this is my life.” he said with a grin. “I really miss the work and (the) talk(s) with guys.”
Kuzmenko and Pelletier skated during their unscheduled absence from the NHL as they linked up with one of the local junior teams in the area, the Calgary Hitmen. “I want to thank the teams for giving me help,” Kuzmeno said. “The practice, it (was) good.” But he knows tomorrow’s matchup with Pittsburgh will be difficult. “Eight days, no work with (the) NHL teams. It’s not easy.”
Kuzmenko Remembered Michkov from the KHL
Kuzmenko has at least one friendly face in the lineup of his new NHL club, Matvei Michkov. The Russian winger played with him as an up-and-coming teenager in Russia. “Yes, I remember!” Kuzmenko said excitedly as he reached into his memory banks to recall Michkov playing alongside an NHL Hall-of-Famer. “Before his first shift, I told him (to) enjoy – this (is) maybe (the) best player in the world, Pavel Datsyuk.” The Detroit Red Wings legend scored 918 points in 953 NHL games and is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion. Kuzmenko had glowing things to say about the Flyers rookie sensation. “He is very skilled. Very good player – the future of Philadelphia,” he said with a smile.
What can fans expect from the first player to wear #96 in Orange and Black? “Little bit of skill, a good shot, and a good hockey IQ,” Kuzmenko stated. As a pending free agent at the end of the season, the Russian forward has 26 games to showcase his talents to Philadelphia’s brain trust, but he isn’t worried about his contract in February. “I don’t think about (the) contract because it’s not now,” he said. “It’s later – after the season. For me, what’s interesting is how I can help this team. I don’t worry about (my) contract because I know I’m a good player. I worry about my game.”
The two newest Philadelphia Flyers expect to get the chance to make a good first impression tomorrow night at 7 PM EST against the Penguins at Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia.
Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images
