Everything about Andrei Kuzmenko’s two-year extension signed Thursday, carrying a $5.5 million AAV, contradicts the philosophizing Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford offered up less than two weeks ago, when he admitted the roster needed “major surgery” and that “between now and the start of next season, we’re going to have to make some changes.”

Instead, just days after replacing coach Bruce Boudreau with Rick Tocchet, supposedly signalling the beginning of a franchise teardown, the Canucks lock up one of their best trade assets during a moment that very well could go down as the peak of his value. Don’t forget about that shooting percentage.

The point here isn’t to knock Kuzmenko, of course. He’s been a revelation, one of the few 2022-23 success stories in Vancouver, forging real chemistry with center Elias Petterssson. As our own Frank Seravalli indicated in this deep-dive profile on Kuzmenko’s contract situation last week, he has emerged as one of the better net-front scorers in the league. In scoring $11 million over the next two years, Kuzmenko and agent Dan Milstein have accomplished two impressive things. For one, the contract secures life-changing money before a major statistical regression can kick in for a player who, to echo Seravalli’s analysis, is more of an opportunistic finisher than a play-driving puck transporter. Secondly, at just two years, Kuzmenko is also betting on himself to produce at a high level for a couple more seasons, then reach unrestricted free agency while still in his 20s. At that point, if he’s proven himself to be a steady scoring forward across three NHL seasons, he’ll secure a lucrative long-term pact.

So, yes, pop the bubbly, Mr. Kuzmenko. We salute you. As for the Canucks? The team brass asserted earlier this season that it wanted to focus on acquiring players 26 and younger as the next stage of its retool/rebuild/whatever you want to call this monstrosity. Extending Kuzemko nine days before his 27^th birthday almost feels like self parody.

The 29-year-old is one that will be heavily sought after near the deadline. He is an effective point producer and has been able to put up points no matter what team he’s been on. Over the last two seasons, he’s played 130 games for the rebuilding Coyotes, scoring 23 goals and 80 points.

It will be imperative for him to become healthy before the deadline because he is one of the biggest trade chips in Arizona. The Coyotes might also trade defenseman Jakob Chychrun, forwards Nick Bjugstad, Travis Boyd, Nick Ritchie, and maybe even goalie Karel Vejmelka if the offer is right.

This injury is a letdown for Arizona, because the next month would have been a perfect opportunity for Gostisbehere to showcase himself while teams are hungry to make moves. That’s not going to happen now, but at least the first half of the season was promising enough for the blueliner.