habs1988
Registered User
Do you think Kulemin from Toronto could be a real steal being ignored 2 drafts and then being drafter in 2nd round (44th) ? With his stats in the RSL, could he be?
on talent, a fantastic pick!...the question is will he come over and will he adapt?
Yes Malkin and Ovechkin have excelled but several other Russians including Artyukhin, Kaigorodov, Mikhnov, Taratukhin, Khomitski and Lisin have failed to play to their potential. The Leafs have Ponikarovsky and Antropov so it should be easier for Kulemin but teams like Edmonton have not done themselves any favors by not helping them adapt to a foreign land and system.
Frankly, its ridculous how Oilers are misusing Mikhnov and to some extent their other prospects. How can a professional hockey team spread their prospects between about 5 minor league teams and expect optimum development?
on talent, a fantastic pick!...the question is will he come over and will he adapt?
Yes Malkin and Ovechkin have excelled but several other Russians including Artyukhin, Kaigorodov, Mikhnov, Taratukhin, Khomitski and Lisin have failed to play to their potential. The Leafs have Ponikarovsky and Antropov so it should be easier for Kulemin but teams like Edmonton have not done themselves any favors by not helping them adapt to a foreign land and system.
Frankly, its ridculous how Oilers are misusing Mikhnov and to some extent their other prospects. How can a professional hockey team spread their prospects between about 5 minor league teams and expect optimum development?
Kulemin plays a game very similar to the North American style. In fact scouts have said that smaller ice surfaces are to his advantage. He is not a perimeter player like several other Russians who have come over unsuccesfully. He hits and grinds. Don't let his stats fool you, he is no sniper. His ceiling is somewhere around a hardnosed 2nd liner. The good news for Leaf fans is he has stated several times that he is eager to come over otherwise he would not have entered the draft three times. He says that he wants to fulfill his current Russian contract which expires at the end of this year and join the Leaf's organization for the 07/08 season. So hopefully there won't be any legality issues.
Fan-of-#9 said:This year, I think Nikolai Kulemin is going to be the steal of the draft.
All I know is that Pittsburgh should have drafted him instead of Staal. He'd look so good next to Malkin!
yes... I like Kulemin but you offer me staal for him and i'll fly to russia and drop him off at the igloo personally.....
yes... I like Kulemin but you offer me staal for him and i'll fly to russia and drop him off at the igloo personally.....
It's a joke, my friend. There were certain Russian posters over on the Pens board slamming us for the fact that we didn't take Kulemin to pair with Malkin.