Kuzmenko Leave of Absence: Hockey Can Wait
The Kuzmenko leave of absence from the Pittsburgh Penguins is the kind of hockey news that makes you stop caring about hockey for a minute.
Andrei Kuzmenko's father, Alexander, was killed by a bear on a fishing trip in southern Siberia.
And every stat line on the planet suddenly feels small.
It's a hard headline to read twice.
It's worth sitting with anyway, because the details matter, and so does the way the Penguins have handled them.
What Happened to Alexander Kuzmenko?
Alexander Kuzmenko was killed by a bear while on a fishing trip Tuesday, September 22, 2026, according to Russian news outlet Ren.tv. He was 62, and Russian media described him as a respected hockey coach in Russia. He was out on the water with six travel companions.
Per Kommersant, the group had come to fish the Bolshoi Yenisei River in the Todzhinsky district of the Tuva Republic, a region in southern Siberia.
A bear emerged from the nearby woods and bit the elder Kuzmenko in the head. Reports described extensive tissue damage and severe facial injuries.
His companions managed to drive the bear away and get him to a nearby settlement. From there he was airlifted to a hospital in Kyzyl, the capital of the Tuva Republic. He could not be saved.
Why Kuzmenko Took a Leave of Absence
The Penguins announced Alexander's death on Thursday, September 24, in a statement from general manager Kyle Dubas. "The Pittsburgh Penguins organization was deeply saddened, this morning, to learn of the passing of Andrei Kuzmenko's father, Alexander," Dubas said.
Then came the detail I can't shake. The 30-year-old forward practiced with his teammates Thursday morning before leaving for Russia. "Andrei chose to be surrounded by his teammates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon," Dubas said.
Sit with that morning for a second.
He lost his dad two days earlier. And he still pulled on the gear and took the ice with the boys before a flight to Moscow. Rink people know this instinct. Sometimes the room is the only place that makes sense. And you go there one more time before you face the quiet.
The club also asked for space.
And they're right to: "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."
Kuzmenko Leave of Absence: How Long?
The Penguins say Kuzmenko will be away from the team for an undetermined amount of time. And honestly, that's the only acceptable answer. No timetable, no countdown, no pressure. A man is burying his father. The lineup can sort itself out.
Who was Alexander Kuzmenko? A 62-year-old respected hockey coach in Russia, fishing with six companions on the Bolshoi Yenisei River when a bear came out of the nearby woods.
Where did the bear attack happen? In the Todzhinsky district of the Tuva Republic in southern Siberia, on the Bolshoi Yenisei River.
When did the Penguins announce it? Thursday, September 24, two days after the attack, in a statement from GM Kyle Dubas.
What to Watch While He Grieves
The temptation will be to turn this into a roster question, and I'd push back on that.
Watch instead how the Penguins carry it: no return-date noise, no leaks, just patience while their forward is home in Moscow with his family.
The son of a hockey coach deserves that much room from all of us.
Alexander Kuzmenko spent his life in the game.
His son spent Thursday morning at practice and that afternoon heading home to grieve him. If hockey ever matters to Andrei Kuzmenko again, it will be as the people around him let it not matter for a while. Hockey can wait. That's not a cliché here, it's the whole point.
So what to watch tonight isn't a comeback timeline, since there isn't one.
Watch how you talk about this story. And whether you can let it just be sad without turning it into content. And ask yourself honestly: would you have been able to take that morning skate?