Andrei Kuzmenko Takes Leave of Absence from Penguins After Father's Death
The forward's father, Alexander, was reportedly killed by a bear in Siberia while on a fishing trip.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko is taking a leave of absence from the team following the reported death of his father, Alexander, who was killed by a bear in Siberia. The team announced the news on Thursday.
According to Russian news outlet Ren.TV, Alexander Kuzmenko, 62, died on Wednesday. He was reportedly on a fishing trip in the Tuva Republic with six other individuals when a bear attacked him. The attack resulted in significant tissue damage. Despite being airlifted to a hospital in Kyzyl, medical professionals were unable to save his life.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas expressed the organization's condolences. "The Pittsburgh Penguins organization was deeply saddened, this morning, to learn of the passing of Andri Kuzmenko’s father, Alexander," Dubas said in a statement. "Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time."
Andrei Kuzmenko practiced with the team on Thursday morning before traveling to Moscow to be with his family. The Penguins organization has offered its full support to Kuzmenko and his family during this difficult period.
Alexander Kuzmenko was known to have trained several notable hockey players in Russia. His son, Andrei, is entering his fifth NHL season and signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Penguins for the 2026-27 season.
Andrei Kuzmenko began his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks in 2022-23. He was traded to the Calgary Flames in 2024 and then to the Philadelphia Flyers a year later. The Flyers subsequently traded him to the Los Angeles Kings two months after that. Last season, Kuzmenko recorded 25 points, including 13 goals and 12 assists, in 52 games for Los Angeles. His NHL career totals stand at 85 goals and 97 points.
The Penguins are scheduled to begin their 2026-27 season on the road against the Flyers next Wednesday.