News Article: shopping right winger Nikolai Kulemin could resolve the situation.

[ForSpareParts*]

Kulemin seems to be this years' Carl Gunnarsson (the odd man out).

It seems to be an opinion beyond HFLeafland.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/53234-Is-Kulemin-part-of-Torontos-plan.html

Kulemin, 27, has one season remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $2.8 million. Though an inconsistent scorer, he tallied 30 goals in 2010-11, which could make him attractive to clubs seeking an affordable scoring winger.

Shedding Kulemin's salary would provide the Leafs with nearly $4.79 million of cap space, more than enough to sign Franson and Raymond. It remains to be seen, however, if Kulemin hits the trade block.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/sto...ranson-maple-leafs-news-mason-raymond-kulemin

Either way, in the Kulemin-for-Raymond scenario, the Leafs could sign Franson to a contract identical to Kadri's: two years, $3 million annually. Their bottom six forwards would take a hit, and the team would rely on players like Joe Colborne and Jerry D'Amigo to save them from icing Frazer MacLaren and Colton Orr at the same time, but the following lineup at least works financially, per Capgeek.com, as would several other third/fourth-line combinations. The important part is swapping Kulemin for Raymond.

FORWARDS

Joffrey Lupul ($5.250 million) / Tyler Bozak ($4.2 million) / Phil Kessel ($5.4 million)

James van Riemsdyk ($4.25 million) / Nazem Kadri ($3 million) / David Clarkson ($5.25 million)

Mason Raymond ($800,000) / Dave Bolland ($3.375 million) / Joe Colborne ($600,000)

Jerry D'Amigo ($1.083 million) / Jay McClement ($1.5 million) / Colton Orr ($925,000)

Frazer McLaren ($700,000) / Trevor Smith ($550,000)

DEFENSEMEN

Dion Phaneuf ($6.5 million) / Cody Franson ($3 million)

Carl Gunnarsson ($3.15 million) / Mark Fraser ($1.275 million)

Jake Gardiner ($1.117 million) / Paul Ranger ($1 million)

Korbinian Holzer ($788,000) / John-Michael Liles ($3.875 million)


GOALTENDERS

Jonathan Bernier ($2.9 million)

James Reimer ($1.8 million)
OTHER

Buyout: Darcy Tucker ($1 million)

Buyout: Colby Armstrong ($1 million)

Click to read more...

 

[Jerkini]

Trading Kulemin would be a terrible ****ing mistake.

 

[BIitz]

Damn a third line of

Raymond-Bolland-Colborne. That's honestly one of the worst 3rd lines in the league IMO, it honestly has no identity.

 

[Warden of the North]

I can see it happening. I think he'll sign elsewhere next summer. Might as well get something for him.

 

[Banic]

It feels anti productive to me. fix one problem by creating another. While he has been an inconsistent scorer, he has been consistently one of our better defensive forwards.

 

[iBELEAF]

Would be so pissed if Kulemin gets traded.

 

[Zonk]

Every move that Nonis has made this summer has been to build a team to the coach's liking.

Kuleman is one of the players in whom Randy Carlyle has the most confidence. While anything can happen, IMO it is highly unlikely that Kuleman would be shipped out for cap reasons. Nonis would look at other options first, including dealing Franson.

 

[TootooTrain]

Trading him for cap relief(ie no asset coming back) is a bad idea.

 

[bringthecuphome]

No thanks. He's important. Does so many little things well, plus i still think he has more offense in his game than he's shown in the last two years. Hell of a wrist shot.

 

[egd27]

Trading Kulemin would be a terrible ****ing mistake.

Blanket statements are so ridiculous.

As always, it depends on the return.

 

[Neil Hamburger]

Kulemin's board work is elite, I would want a first round level prospect back in return at the minimum. He provides an element on the wing no other player on our team has.

 

[BeLeafr]

Shedding Kulemin for cap space would be a mistake.

The only way you trade Kulemin is if the return is right. He's an undervalued Leaf IMO.

 

[Hotlanta]

Damn a third line of

Raymond-Bolland-Colborne. That's honestly one of the worst 3rd lines in the league IMO, it honestly has no identity.

Depends on the return but that would not be the third line. It would be:

Raymond - Bolland - McClement
McLaren - Colborne - Orr

 

[Donato]

Depends what we can get for him obviously, but yes the team is being modded to the coaches liking like someone else said.

I doubt it will be franson or kulemin. Why? Because they found themselves as regulars under Carlyle . Lilies didn't. I like JML but I think he's the odd one out here. Same thing with Connolly and Lombardi last year.

A shut down line of kulemin Bolland and (Raymond or Mcclement) would be great, when you want speed, swap Raymond for Mcclement on the 4th C

 

[Porn*]

we can't move him... he's too important to our team imho. he's a guy you love to have and hate to play against but gets zero recognition. He quietly goes about his business. He's an absolute rock out there. I'd much rather lose Bolland to free agency.

 

[The Podium]

Although I hate admitting it, I think trading Kulemin is inevitable. I can't see him not in Pittsburgh at the start of next season and I rather not let more assets walk for nothing. This coming from probabably Kulemins biggest supporter.

 

[p.l.f.]

We don't have enough depth
Wait till 3 forwards get hurt

 

[bonjovi0308]

Trading Kulie doesnt solve any problems becoz there will be salaries coming back. Letting Frason walks is the ideal situation:

1) We have a logjam at d already, whether its now or the future.

2) Get picks back, restock our prospect cupboard

3) no immediate salary coming back

 

[67Cup]

If it is known that Kulemin is being traded to create cap space (and it would be) the return would be less than overwhelming.

 

[Morbo]

Nonis will figure something out. I guess it's possible Kulemin could be moved but he doesn't make a lot of money and is a very good 3rd line player, which we finally have 3 of(well, maybe 4 or 5 depending on how you think of Bozak and Clarkson).

 

[7even]

If someone's getting traded, I'd rather it be Franson.

 

[Lebanese Leaf]

No.

Kulemin may not be a shiny new toy, but he's more valuable than anyone else in that bottom 6 (save for maybe McClement) and he can play in the top 6 seamlessly as well.

 

[ForSpareParts*]

i know how everyone is feeling, but can't we trade for a 3rd line defensive winger at the trade deadline? he isn't exactly irreplaceable is he?

i could see

Raymond Bolland Colborne

we do have other people no?

Biggs, Ashton, D'amigo?

 

[Primary Assist]

i hate our media

 

[Kessely Snipes]

Trading Kulemin would be a big mistake. I think of line of Raymond/Colborne-Bolland-Kulemin sounds awesome.