News Article: Kulemin: All discussion here

[Rayban*]

kulemin is pretty much the ultimate 3rd liner..he deserves a contract and a small raise.

 

[Orfieus]

i still say trade him. however, he has been playing amazingly the last few games.

Has he been playing center?!?

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I like this new Kulemin. There is nothing more valuable than a winger than can also play Center.

Wish we had a larger sample, but man why didn't Carlyle try this when Bozak and Bolland were out?

 

[Duffman955]

Kulemin is playing awesome.

That whole Raymond-Kulemin-Bodie line has been money.

 

[BooRadley]

Just found out he bought a house in south etobicoke (not sure what he did with his condo). Good sign he likes it here and wants to stay.

 

[hockeystick89]

LOL the guy is actually very good at center. It seemed like the puck got out of our end a lot faster when his line was on the ice. Kulemin was always in the right spot to give the D an outlet, he still helped out along the boards, and he got way better looks on offense.

 

[TheKule]

LOL the guy is actually very good at center. It seemed like the puck got out of our end a lot faster when his line was on the ice. Kulemin was always in the right spot to give the D an outlet, he still helped out along the boards, and he got way better looks on offense.

Putting Kulemin at C and giving him more responsibilities as a back checker seems to be working. Excellent support for the D tonight. Gleason and Rielly never really got into trouble because the support was so close to the goal line.

Gonna need another 20 games at C, which he won't get, to really know.

 

[ULF_55]

LOL the guy is actually very good at center. It seemedodie. like the puck got out of our end a lot faster when his line was on the ice. Kulemin was always in the right spot to give the D an outlet, he still helped out along the boards, and he got way better looks on offense.

He's an under rated passer.

Imagine if he was passing to players not named Bodie.

 

[ULF_55]

Putting Kulemin at C and giving him more responsibilities as a back checker seems to be working. Excellent support for the D tonight. Gleason and Rielly never really got into trouble because the support was so close to the goal line.

Gonna need another 20 games at C, which he won't get, to really know.

You mean he wasn't at the other blueline waiting for a pass?

I wonder if some other teams are paying attention to his play at center?

 

[BonMorrison]

Kulemin at C forever plz.

I thought he'd be good but I'm actually surprised at how good he's been.

This versatility has added a completely new side of him and has upped his value to this team.

 

[Ace88*]

what if carlyle tries bolland on kulemin's wing when he gets back? Stick Komarov on the other wing hopefully next season. The havoc that kind of swiss army knife line could create would be retrded. What a deliciously absurd idea!

 

[Rare Jewel]

Randy may have just found his new Sami Pahlsson.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Im thinking Leafs will keep the cheaper of Kulemin/Bolland. Both look good at 3rd line center but we can't overpay for third liners anymore.

 

[ponder]

He's just a rock solid player, I want to keep him around.

 

[dsf]

Trade him for picks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dballislife2]

teams best defensive forward, has size and speed, and some scoring punch...offers a lot to a team

 

[ShaneFalco]

i'm starting to change my mind on Kulemin. Although if he's destined for the third line it may not be feasible

 

[080]

Just found out he bought a house in south etobicoke (not sure what he did with his condo). Good sign he likes it here and wants to stay.

Where did you read this?

 

[Center Ice Scrum*]

I really really really want to see this lineup once Bolly returns/ post trade deadline!

JVR - Bozak - Kessel
Bolland - Kadri - Clarkson
Lupul - Kulemin - Raymond
D'Amigo - McClement - Bodie

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Rielly - Gleason
Gardiner - RHD (stay at home) or Franson (hopefully we can trade him)
Ranger

Bernier
Reimer

That Bolland - Kadri - Clarkson line I think would work fairly well. Clarky and Bolland are both good defensive players who play a much grittier/ grinding game. Kadri can hit / chirp and play physical. Having the two big boys ride shotgun with him could give us one hell of a line with a solid combo of skill, grit and defensive acumen. All 3 players are also fairly similar in terms of their skating speeds etc.

The Lupul - Kulemin - Raymond line can be our skill line that can play defense and produce quality O. All three players are defensively responsible and creative offensively. Lupul and Kulemin love to play the boards and Raymond loves to carry the puck. Kulemin can dish the puck since both Raymond and Lupul love to shoot.

I think we can have one pure offensive line with 2 highly capable 2 way lines that can provide good shutdown and quality secondary scoring. I know it sounds a little crazy but it just might work. Plus having Kulemin play C bodes well for us in the playoffs, in case there are injuries.

 

[Center Ice Scrum*]

Next Season:

FORWARDS

James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($3.600m)
David Clarkson ($5.250m) / Dave Bolland ($3.600m) / Leo Komarov ($1.750m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.851m) / Jay McClement ($1.750m) / Troy Bodie ($0.600m)
Sam Carrick ($0.632m) /


DEFENSEMEN

Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m) / Tim Gleason ($4.000m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.825m) / Rostislav Klesla ($3.500m)


GOALTENDERS

Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
James Reimer ($2.500m)


BUYOUTS

Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)

SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,401,333; BONUSES: $850,000

CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $2,698,667

 

[ULF_55]

Next Season:

FORWARDS

James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($3.600m)
David Clarkson ($5.250m) / Dave Bolland ($3.600m) / Leo Komarov ($1.750m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.851m) / Jay McClement ($1.750m) / Troy Bodie ($0.600m)
Sam Carrick ($0.632m) /


DEFENSEMEN

Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m) / Tim Gleason ($4.000m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.825m) / Rostislav Klesla ($3.500m)


GOALTENDERS

Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
James Reimer ($2.500m)


BUYOUTS

Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)

SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,401,333; BONUSES: $850,000

CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $2,698,667

Granberg is a RHD and less than $1,000,000

Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m) / Tim Gleason ($4.000m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.825m) / Petter Granberg ($0.800)

 

[Pi]

Kulemin is a great player for the Leafs. Signing him for 3-4 years would be ideal for the Leafs.

 

[Center Ice Scrum*]

I've never heard a peep coming from him or his agent about not wanting to play for the Leafs. His wife is from TO and his kids were born and raised here. If he's being offered a fair contract in terms of $ and years, I don't see him having any qualms about it.

Why exactly are we assuming that Kule wants out? Or that the Leafs can't afford him, when realistically speaking we can pay him up to 4 mil per without breaking the bank. I'd much rather get rid of Cody Franson than Kulemin from a Leafs POV. This all seems like a big ploy to get him signed at a hometown discount.

http://sports.nationalpost.com
That article is about 2 days old and has a direct quote from Kule saying that he'd love to stay.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Kulemin is doing what Grabovski couldn't do last year. Shutdown C.

I have always maintained it was Kulemin that made the KGM line what it was for the 10-11 season. It's only 2 games, but I see no reason why he couldn't be a good #3C.

Is there a way we can lock up both Kule and Bolland?

Yes, we lose Lupul in the summer next season.

Leafs are winning with a moderate contribution from Lupul, mostly shootouts. We have some interesting decisions coming.

 

[WTFMAN99]

My only hope of Kulemin returning is pretty much Randy Carlyle...Randy really likes him so I am hoping he makes the push.