Mess
Global Moderator
It will be interesting to see how effectively Leafs own internal youth can pick up the slack of players like Kulemin, Bolland and Mason who they might be replacing.
Nikolai Kulemin
- Thread starter Johnny Danger
- Start date
It will be interesting to see how effectively Leafs own internal youth can pick up the slack of players like Kulemin, Bolland and Mason who they might be replacing.
I love how people are always saying trade Lupul as if his 20-30 goals are replaced so easily. Trade him without a proven replacement say hello to a one line team. I suppose people really do want the Leafs to be in the hunt for the #1 pick next year 
Oh.. btw no way Kulemin is back next year.. 0% chance.
Oh.. btw no way Kulemin is back next year.. 0% chance.
thewave
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2011
- 40,494
- 10,418
I love how people are always saying trade Lupul as if his 20-30 goals are replaced so easily. Trade him without a proven replacement say hello to a one line team. I suppose people really do want the Leafs to be in the hunt for the #1 pick next year
Oh.. btw no way Kulemin is back next year.. 0% chance.
That's why I would trade Lupul and Dion for picks tbh. The hunt for top 5 next year should be a priority.
Mess
Global Moderator
If Leafs 3rd line of Raymond -- Bolland -- Kulemin was replaced in full by D'Amigo -- Holland -- Ashton and everything else remained the same the same would the results be better or worse?
Isn't that our next wave at present?
Teams replace their vets with cheaper younger players all the time in hopes of getting better.
In Leafs case I'm not sure Leafs departing 3rd liners are going to be that easy to replace internally.
Not sure if many teams intentionally tank or if MLSE would even allow it as it is a business and the point is to make money every year and making money = play offs. Would they be willing to obviously tank like this, perhaps but I doubt it.
It is not like they are a money strapped team so they can not claim poverty for sucking.
I could see it in mid season and if they were sucking then trade off assets (and suck more) but at the beginning of the year when you have fans and sponsor's ... shrug
Worse. Without doubt. There's a reason that Raymond-Bolland-Kulemin are in the NHL and have been for some time.
Next wave meaning Brown, Herzog, Verhaeghe and some of the Euros with a Finn, Granberg, Loov on D. Because I see nothing of value today.
Yet one two at a time on winning teams. You get a Mason Raymond at a mil with real NHL skills and experience rather than pay an Ashton or D'Amigo more with less NHL capabilities.
I see a Troy Bodie come in and work hard enough to make an impact in limited icetime. A true pro. He deserved the icetime increase. None of the others did this. Especially Ashton. Time to cut ties with this kid. Career AHLer.
Mess
Global Moderator
Leafs are a bottom 10 team by playing the vets so I see no risk in playing the kids. What do we have to lose?
Problem being Kulemin is one of the players that plays defense and a 200ft game and Bolland and McClement our UFAs are the players that are better without the puck than most of their teammates.
The kids are replacing the wrong players if you want to reduce your goals against and improve your team defense. Problem is while its the top 6 that are the weak links defensively Leafs kids are not skilled enough offensively to replace any of them and are only bottom 6 players capable. Not their fault just the way it is. !!!
I love how people are always saying trade Lupul as if his 20-30 goals are replaced so easily. Trade him without a proven replacement say hello to a one line team. I suppose people really do want the Leafs to be in the hunt for the #1 pick next year
Oh.. btw no way Kulemin is back next year.. 0% chance.
Hell I wouldn't want Ovechkin here. Has dick all to do with points. Again LA Kings 26th in scoring. Their points are great its the rest of their game that sucks.I would hazzard to suggest that between Lupul and Kadri you are probably looking 1/2 at our worst forwards in our own end.
0%?
Purity*
Registered User
- Jan 29, 2010
- 8,446
- 1
And first in scoring in the post-season, with Marian Gaborik (A player you'd suggest would have no place on the Kings) leading the goal-scoring.
You probably wouldn't want Patrick Kane here either.
I'd be ok with Kane. Has learned more of the 200 ft game and battles. Take him over Lupul or Ovechkin any day.
Btw when you play the most games it's just a touch easier to score more.
johnny_rudeboy
Registered User
I think MLSE very much would like to celebrate TML´s 100th anniversary with a 20 years old McDavid as the face of their franchise.
Mess
Global Moderator
Only 3 possible outcomes by playing the Kids instead of the vets like Kulemin.
1) The team improves = Win because the change resulted in improvement.
2) The team performs the same = Irrelevant as to who plays, nothing lost.
3) The team declines and drafts even earlier than #8th = Win by having access to higher future potential prospects.
I don't see where we lose so "play the kids".
Trapper
Registered User
- Nov 21, 2013
- 23,763
- 11,048
This team only loses if it finishes higher than 8th and out of the playoffs. Even then, if the draft is very deep we still get another good player.
But seriously what side are we on?
Are we making the playoffs next year?
If you are management and the answer to that question is no, what do you do for the good of the organization?
Management already answered. Said this team was more the 12-13 team than the 13-14.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
I'd love to resign Kulemon, though I'd also wouldn't mind having marlies players make up our entire bottom six next season. We finished bottom ten in the league last season - I'm willing to bet that some hungry Marlies looking to cement a permanet role in the big leagues can't play any worse than what we had to watch last season. And if they do, well, I'd rather have a bottom 5 pick, than a 6-10.
Dave Nonis is doing a pretty great job destroying this team's relationship with certain agents.
By my count there's already been public confrontations with Reimer's, Kule/Grabo's, and Gardiners. I've got a feeling this may come back to bite us.
Dave Nonis is doing a pretty great job destroying this team's relationship with certain agents.
By my count there's already been public confrontations with Reimer's, Kule/Grabo's, and Gardiners. I've got a feeling this may come back to bite us.
Bardown warrior
Registered User
smh anyone of D'amigo leivo holland can replace kulimen. The kids are alright. Let them play.
cookie
Fresh From The Oven
So wait a minute. You don't think that having someone as highly touted as McDavid or the #2 pick in this draft will bring in viewers? While getting to the playoffs is a great way to make money, I wouldn't think that getting kicked out of the first round is that big of a money maker.
For MLSE, they have to see the costs and benefits associated with either:
-spending money and taking up roster spots for free agents in order to make a hopeful playoff push. This can backfire in the long-term with highly-paid players on long-term contract not performing. Those who perform well will be difficult to accommodate for in the long-term (5+years in the future)
-have prospects develop and not spend as much in free agency. Weed out the non-performers and get a quality young player who may bring in new fans.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
I was impressed with the limited icetime they got with the leafs, Holland in particular. And I very much enjoyed their time with the marlies. I'd have no problem giving them a shot.
