- Andrei Kuzmenko left Thursday’s practice and flew to Moscow after his father’s death
- Kyle Dubas and Dan Muse both addressed the tragedy in statements to the team
- Read below for the latest on Kuzmenko’s status with the season opener nine days out
Andrei Kuzmenko won’t be around the Penguins locker room for a while.
The winger left Pittsburgh’s Thursday practice and flew to Moscow after his father, Alexander, died in a bear attack while fishing in Russia’s Tuva Republic. He skated with his teammates one final time before making the trip.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas addressed the tragedy in a statement posted by the team:
“We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time,” Dubas said in the statement. “Andrei chose to be surrounded by his teammates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family.”
Alexander Kuzmenko was 62, according to NHL.com. He was on a fishing trip with six companions in the Tuva Republic when a bear attacked him. They drove the animal off and rushed him to a hospital in Kyzyl, but he couldn’t be saved.
Penguins coach Dan Muse was asked about Kuzmenko’s absence after practice. He kept it short.
“Myself and the whole organization, just our deepest condolences on Andrei Kuzmenko and just the passing of his father,” Muse said. “‘Kuzy’ wanted to skate with the team. He wanted to be with his teammates. That’s why he was out there.”
Teammate Ilya Solovyov talked about what Kuzmenko means to the room.
“He’s so positive. He’s like a lighter in a dark room,” Solovyov said. “I hope he will stay strong and be the same positive guy. I can’t imagine what he’s feeling.”
Kuzmenko signed a one-year, $5 million deal with Pittsburgh in July, his fifth NHL stop since 2023. He put up 25 points in 52 games for the Kings last season before a torn meniscus ended things early, and he was ticketed for a top-nine role heading into camp.
There’s no timetable for his return. The Penguins open the season at Philadelphia on Sept. 30, and whether Kuzmenko is back by then is the last thing on anyone’s mind in Pittsburgh right now.
