Nikolai Kulemin

[Apollo Leaf]

I always thought it was really weird how his scoring disappeared after his 30 goal season back in 2011. He has all the talent to be a 20+ goal scorer every year. I was quickly reminded of this when he sniped one last night. I for one, think he should be used in a top 6 role again with PP time. Maybe it will spark his offensive game.

 

[ULF_55]

I always thought it was really weird how his scoring disappeared after his 30 goal season back in 2011. He has all the talent to be a 20+ goal scorer every year. I was quickly reminded of this when he sniped one last night. I for one, think he should be used in a top 6 role again with PP time. Maybe it will spark his offensive game.

I think he'll get that opportunity with a different coach.

 

[BonMorrison]

Oh Kulie. No doubt my favorite Leaf player, you'll be hard-pressed to find somebody that pumps his tires more than I do around here. The lack of love he gets from the casual fanbase is absolutely disgusting, I remember when I got laughed out of Real Sports for asking if they had any Kulemin jerseys. **** this world.

Getting back to his play, I'm not part of the "he's not being used right" or "he's a 20 goal man on a different team" boat. He's not a goal scorer, his one big season was a gigantic anomoly. 20 goals? He'll honestly be hard pressed to put up 15 goals. He is through and through a defensive forward and Carlyle has recognized that and is running with it. He's our defensively superior Lauri Korpikoski or offensive inferior Jannik Hansen. He can play spot duty in top six but he won"t be there to put up points. It'll be to cycle and to free up space.

Nobody really notices just how much Kulemin has changed his game the last few years. He finishes ALL his checks, you can tell Carlyle has encouraged him to hit as often as possible because he now hits everything. He led the team in hits last night, in fact. He also led our forwards in blocked shots last season and had four last night.

Kulie is not an offensive player on this team but I'm okay with tat, his defensive intangibles are hard-pressed to find in comparison to any of our other players. His Minnesota PK was fantastic. All that being said, even if he doesn't ask for a raise, I can see him walking onto Pittsburgh as well - him and Malkin just seem like too much of BFFs.

Getting back to my first point, I just don't understand why the casuals show no appreciation for him. Is it cause he's Russian? Or doesn't score goals? Or is our fanbase just dumb?

 

[InterceptSchenn]

You just don't see it, do you? You lack the observation in a match, it's good that you're just a fan and not anything more than that to hockey. It's not like he can't score or can't put up the goals. You can see clearly in last night's match that he can find the top corner in a hard pass. He is what he is. He is being used for a shut down role and playing with McClement and Raymond(just one night and he scores)/Ashton.

Give Kulemin Bolland and Raymond once they're healthy or Holland and Raymond after Kadri and Bozak returns and watch him putting up the points. It's not a kids' play to kill the penalty. It needs a serious dedication and attention at the play on the ice without the puck. I won't wonder a bit if he asks for a raise.

IMHO he deserves whatever he will ask. He has served leafs very well over the bad times and my hat will always go off for him.

Same as you, my friend. A fan. And of course he cannot score, he has 3 shots on goal this year. He had a career year where he and his linemates put up careers years a few years ago. It won't happen again. He is a completely different player right now.Every time he has the puck, he fumbles it. It is shocking how much he has changed in 3 seasons. Last year he played with JVR and Grabo and could not produce for a long stretch. Face it, he is a checking forward in this league and should be paid like one. He is a 7-10 goal guy, 25-30 pts if lucky. Good 2 way, but more of a defensive specialist.

 

[DaveT83*]

Kulie should be making Clarkson money.

 

[CerebralDevil]

Oh Kulie. No doubt my favorite Leaf player, you'll be hard-pressed to find somebody that pumps his tires more than I do around here. The lack of love he gets from the casual fanbase is absolutely disgusting, I remember when I got laughed out of Real Sports for asking if they had any Kulemin jerseys. **** this world.

Getting back to his play, I'm not part of the "he's not being used right" or "he's a 20 goal man on a different team" boat. He's not a goal scorer, his one big season was a gigantic anomoly. 20 goals? He'll honestly be hard pressed to put up 15 goals. He is through and through a defensive forward and Carlyle has recognized that and is running with it. He's our defensively superior Lauri Korpikoski or offensive inferior Jannik Hansen. He can play spot duty in top six but he won"t be there to put up points. It'll be to cycle and to free up space.

Nobody really notices just how much Kulemin has changed his game the last few years. He finishes ALL his checks, you can tell Carlyle has encouraged him to hit as often as possible because he now hits everything. He led the team in hits last night, in fact. He also led our forwards in blocked shots last season and had four last night.

Kulie is not an offensive player on this team but I'm okay with tat, his defensive intangibles are hard-pressed to find in comparison to any of our other players. His Minnesota PK was fantastic. All that being said, even if he doesn't ask for a raise, I can see him walking onto Pittsburgh as well - him and Malkin just seem like too much of BFFs.

Getting back to my first point, I just don't understand why the casuals show no appreciation for him. Is it cause he's Russian? Or doesn't score goals? Or is our fanbase just dumb?

LOL I get ur a Kule fan but I guess you don't want to mention anything about how slow he looks out there and why he standing still in the d-zone. He was a good, now he is and looks lost out there. Time for him to find a new home, it would be best for him and the TML to move on. Kulemin has never been the same since that horrible plane crash in Russia with some of his friends on that flight. Kulemin has all the ability to play like a top 6 winger but is holding back and timid. Kulemin needs to have a new start somewhere. If that upsets you, its what IMO most people are seeing.

 

[BonMorrison]

LOL I get ur a Kule fan but I guess you don't want to mention anything about how slow he looks out there and why he standing still in the d-zone. He was a good, now he is and looks lost out there. Time for him to find a new home, it would be best for him and the TML to move on. Kulemin has never been the same since that horrible plane crash in Russia with some of his friends on that flight. Kulemin has all the ability to play like a top 6 winger but is holding back and timid. Kulemin needs to have a new start somewhere. If that upsets you, its what IMO most people are seeing.

"I'm going to call you wrong without addressing any of your points."

He does look slower but his defensive play is still among the best on the team. Did you watch the Minnesota game when we killed 9 minutes in the 3rd and he was on for most of it? Or his PKing ability last night? And prior nights? Are you going to address his ability to block shots and get in shooting lanes or how he is among the top in the hits department among our forwards?

If anything he is LESS timid now without the puck.

I already stated that I don't expect his offense to ever return but I'm okay with that.

And why would you even suggest that it upsets me that he will walk after this season? I SAID IT in my gigantic post.

 

[CerebralDevil]

"I'm going to call you wrong without addressing any of your points."

He does look slower but his defensive play is still among the best on the team. Did you watch the Minnesota game when we killed 9 minutes in the 3rd and he was on for most of it? Or his PKing ability last night? And prior nights? Are you going to address his ability to block shots and get in shooting lanes or how he is among the top in the hits department among our forwards?

If anything he is LESS timid now without the puck.

I already stated that I don't expect his offense to ever return but I'm okay with that.

And why would you even suggest that it upsets me that he will walk after this season? I SAID IT in my gigantic post.

I read ur post, and u mention that it disgusts you in the lack of respect he gets. I did watch the Minne game, and I think you should watch that game again cause he literally was standing there for 4-5sec watching Minne skate. You give him too much credit for PK when its McClement skating hard and Kulemin in a trance. That's what I'm talking about, only seeing what you want to see. Just because he was out during a pk doesn't mean he did great, and he does look timid with the puck, cause if he didn't he wouldn't have only 3 shots on net for the season.

 

[CerebralDevil]

How much longer do we give this guy?? He needs a new scenery and it would benefit both him and TML.

 

[Eyedea]

I read ur post, and u mention that it disgusts you in the lack of respect he gets. I did watch the Minne game, and I think you should watch that game again cause he literally was standing there for 4-5sec watching Minne skate. You give him too much credit for PK when its McClement skating hard and Kulemin in a trance. That's what I'm talking about, only seeing what you want to see. Just because he was out during a pk doesn't mean he did great, and he does look timid with the puck, cause if he didn't he wouldn't have only 3 shots on net for the season.

Kulemin and McClement switch roles on the PK whenever one is fatigue. Also you shouldn't expect both forwards to run wild in the defensive zone because it would make the team on the powerplay find space and create plays a lot easier.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

How much longer do we give this guy?? He needs a new scenery and it would benefit both him and TML.

Even with the lack of goal-scoring hes a very useful player. He's probably going to move on but he will be missed. Hes our 2nd best defensive forward, behind McClement.

 

[AustonMitchWilly]

I like Kule and I'd over pay him slightly to keep him here. Only slightly though.

 

[Eb]

How much longer do we give this guy?? He needs a new scenery and it would benefit both him and TML.

Just a facepalm of a post. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

If he ends up in Pittsburgh/Washington he'll pot 25-30 on a yearly basis.

One of my favorite players, and he's just not being used to his potential here.

Everything about him is top 6 material, except maybe his designated shootout/breakaway move haha.

 

[Kyle93]

One of my fav leafs, great defensively, good speed and size, hits, hard worker. If he is not re-signed or is traded away it will be really stupid. Kulemin>Clarkson.

 

[dimi78]

I read ur post, and u mention that it disgusts you in the lack of respect he gets. I did watch the Minne game, and I think you should watch that game again cause he literally was standing there for 4-5sec watching Minne skate. You give him too much credit for PK when its McClement skating hard and Kulemin in a trance. That's what I'm talking about, only seeing what you want to see. Just because he was out during a pk doesn't mean he did great, and he does look timid with the puck, cause if he didn't he wouldn't have only 3 shots on net for the season.

You obviously don't have a clue of the X's and O's in what they do on the PK...

They run a triangle down low with one guy McClement being aggressive on the point men. That's why you see McClement skate the way he does from one side to the other.

It's designed this way to keep teams on the outside and have 3 guys in the dangerous areas to clear rebounds.

Watch it closely when that pair isn't out you see the same thing. 1 forward holds position in the slot in front of the D while the other works his tale checking.

Just to add to this what you see from Kulemin is defensive zone structure in positioning with an incredible sense of discipline to stick with it and trust the scheme the coaches have in place.... I would say it works wouldn't you?

 

[Ed Belfour]

Love Kulie, but I see him being shipped out either at the deadline or the draft. Clarkson's contract is really going to handicap the team going forward, and I think Kulie will be the first casualty.

 

[Kief Richards]

With Kule being a ufa, I think he will be dealt at one point, especially when we have more players back. Carter Ashton needs to continue to improve and then the dealing of Kule will make more sense.

 

[Wendelstache]

Carlyle seems to love his defensive play so it will be interesting to see what happens at the trade deadline or if he becomes an UFA.

I hope he joins Malkin in Pittsburg, I for one would love to see him get back to his offensive form.

 

[Purity*]

We're probably going to end up losing him due to Clarkson's contract, and yes, that has me SEETHING with anger Kulemin is better than Clarkson in a LOT of aspects of the game, Clarkson takes dumb penalties and is more of a 3rd line grinder... I can't even believe were stuck with Clarkson instead of Kulemin, sometimes this management makes me want to tear my hair out. McClement, Bolland, and Gardiner are also potential casualties to Clarkson's stupid contract.

Everyone talks about how we can replace Kulemin internally, which there's nothing wrong with that... Wanna know how easily we can replace Clarkson? So far this season, he's been a 3rd line grinder at best. He can be easily replaced as well. I hate this signing the more I think about it.

 

[Hyperglide]

Kulie is a good player and he has a great shot he should shoot more often but in the grand scheme of things we already have a bunch of nice players and Kulie is now relegated to 3rd line shut down duties, PK, forecheck and cycle game instead of his game where he shot more and carried the rush more with Grabbo and Mac a few years ago.

This is why a lot of fans don't care for him as he isn't a flashy type of player but he's an excellent hockey player as he's big, physical, can bang, PK, cycle and play against top lines and shut them down and can still pot a goal here and there.

 

[Hyperglide]

We're probably going to end up losing him due to Clarkson's contract, and yes, that has me SEETHING with anger Kulemin is better than Clarkson in a LOT of aspects of the game, Clarkson takes dumb penalties and is more of a 3rd line grinder... I can't even believe were stuck with Clarkson instead of Kulemin, sometimes this management makes me want to tear my hair out. McClement, Bolland, and Gardiner are also potential casualties to Clarkson's stupid contract.

Everyone talks about how we can replace Kulemin internally, which there's nothing wrong with that... Wanna know how easily we can replace Clarkson? So far this season, he's been a 3rd line grinder at best. He can be easily replaced as well. I hate this signing the more I think about it.

Relax. If Kulemin is going to leave the Maple Leafs it's not cause we can't give him a raise or a fair contract. The cap is going up and we can probably get a few million here and there if need be by making moves.

 

[RaskY]

In no way would the Leafs benefit by losing Kule. He's probably our most complete forward.

He should be on the second power-play unit instead of Clarkson. I've said before I'd love to see him on a line with Lupul and Kadri, but once Bolland gets back, a third line of Kulemin - Bolland - Raymond? could see decent production.

 

[CerebralDevil]

You obviously don't have a clue of the X's and O's in what they do on the PK...
They run a triangle down low with one guy McClement being aggressive on the point men. That's why you see McClement skate the way he does from one side to the other.

It's designed this way to keep teams on the outside and have 3 guys in the dangerous areas to clear rebounds.

Watch it closely when that pair isn't out you see the same thing. 1 forward holds position in the slot in front of the D while the other works his tale checking.

Just to add to this what you see from Kulemin is defensive zone structure in positioning with an incredible sense of discipline to stick with it and trust the scheme the coaches have in place.... I would say it works wouldn't you?

First of all, you don't know what I do or what I know. I didn't say anything about the PK in its self. I stated that he does not move, there is a difference when your playing positional and not moving at all. Kulemin does not move, and when it comes to the PK every player has to keep moving and staying their zone coverage. Kule is good player when he has the drive and confidence, but the past 2 years he has been lost and just another body on the ice. If you watch the film he is slow footed defensively and slow to react on offence. IMO that's a guy with a mental block and scared to make any mistakes on the ice. Like I stated before he isn't the same since that plane crash. He isn't horrible out there and Im not saying he is garbage but there is something wrong with the kid and I think he needs a new team.

 

[hockeygeek]

Kuly is the kind of depth player that good teams have