The Expendable 3 - Nikolai Kulemin??

[FriedEgg]

He is making to much cake for the role he fills (as important as that role is). 3rd line checking wingers shouldn't be making 3+ mill. Ashton can grow into that role at a lesser cost. Plus Nikolai is tradable. Get assets in return and save on cap

 

[Phion Keneuf]

He is making to much cake for the role he fills (as important as that role is). 3rd line checking wingers shouldn't be making 3+ mill. Ashton can grow into that role at a lesser cost. Plus Nikolai is tradable. Get assets in return and save on cap

2.8 mil < 3+ mil

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Not yet he's not. Keep him this year so his future replacements have another year of seasoning. Kulemin may very well leave via UFA, but I'd rather hold onto him this season rather than trade him.

 

[rumman]

Kulemin's a good defensive player, but he's also the most overrated player on the Leafs hands down. McClemment is twice the player at less than 1/2 the price.

 

[Porn*]

he's a UFA after this year... you keep him and see how those kids develop... no rush in moving him. he might even sign for less then he's currently making just to stay here. never know

 

[notdoneyet]

two questions have to answered first

does he want a raise on his present contract?
if not sign him if he wants more then let him go.
for younger cheaper players like ashton and leivo.

are we winning the cup this year?

if we are then we keep kule for the whole season
if not then we trade him at the deadline. we cannot afford
to keep losing players for nothing.(macarthur)

last year at the deadline we could have probably got a 2nd for mac
and how would that have looked on draft day.

 

[highslot]

no player mentioned on this thread has the proven talents of kulemin.

speed, accurate shot, good enough puck control, backchecks well and great cycle game.

kulemin scored 30 goals on second line, and his production decreased because he was willing to be more of a 2way forward, and grabbo tailspun for some reason. hard worker, doesn't complain and very efficient during the season.

leivo might have a shot of reaching his level, but if we have something that works, why let it go? he's due for a pay increase.i'd rather have leivo and him on third line than just leivo.

k's worth more than bolland for sure.

in fact, if i was going to keep a core at all costs like chitown did, it would be kessel, kadri, jvr, lupul, kulemin, gardiner, franson.

nonis will have some juggling to do.

 

[TootooTrain]

People still expect him to put up 25goals and 50pts which isn't his role anymore. The last few years we've had pretty horrible depth, meaning he got more than enough icetime. Right now all he's gotta do is play a physical brand of 2way hockey, and chip in 15g and 40pts.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Would you keep Kulemin and let Bolland walk?

If Bolland plays this season, like he did last or is injured too much.

I want to find a way to keep him.

 

[Stephen]

Kulemin shouldn't be moved unless a kid absolutely steals his job.

 

[fahad203]

I think Kulemin might be gone, and I for some reason can see Columbus or the oilers being a good destination for him.

The perfect destination for him would be Pittsburg playing along with his buddy Malkin. He's exactly what Malkin needs, a reliable winger who can do the dirty work along the boards.

 

[dougieg93]

Kulemin is as unsung a hero as they come. He needs to stay unless he's getting pressure from the young guys for the role he brings. I would just like to see Kulemin where he belongs on the 3rd line with Bolland and Raymond.

 

[ponder]

Cannot conceive of why anyone would want to get rid of Kulemin. Wins physical battles, very good skater, very good defensively, solid though not exceptional offensively. Great 3rd liner, who can play in the top 6 when we have injuries/suspensions. When our top 6 is all playing, then Raymond/Bolland/Kulemin will be one of the top lines in the league.

 

[TheKule]

Kulie is no doubt the most underrated Leaf among the fanbase. He's worth every cent of his contract, and its unfortuante that Nonis' disaster of an offseason pretty much guarantees he'll be gone as a UFA.

 

[Cor]

Alright, let me toss this out there.

Carter Ashton has shown that he can be a 3rd liner for this team. However, he will likely be stuck on the 4th line, or in the press box, due to the depth of this team.

If at the deadline, we are in a playoff spot, but a fringe playoff team offers a 1st rounder, or a 2nd rounder and a prospect for Kulemin, do you take it? How important is Kulemin to the success of this team?

Is Kulemin - Bolland - Raymond a big enough upgrade over Ashton - Bolland - Raymond to not make a deal, even if you are getting trade market value, even a slight overpayment?

 

[34]

Keep Kulemin and Bolland, trade Clarkson

Agreed, Clarkson is nothing more than a 3rd liner at best. He is WAY overpaid and will not contribute much. Worst contract on the team. He will be bought out in a few years.

 

[AustonMitchWilly]

Why do people think Leivo is NHL ready? Hes a great prospect and will be great one day but hes not ready. Trust me, I went to high school with him. I want to see him in the NHL as soon as possible too. But its not happening this year.

 

[Mr Scarface*]

Is he happy here?

It's still not about that for everybody. Some like it rough and bad.

 

[JackJ]

If Kulemin is willing to take 2m per season then no.

 

[egd27]

Alright, let me toss this out there.

Carter Ashton has shown that he can be a 3rd liner for this team. However, he will likely be stuck on the 4th line, or in the press box, due to the depth of this team.

If at the deadline, we are in a playoff spot, but a fringe playoff team offers a 1st rounder, or a 2nd rounder and a prospect for Kulemin, do you take it? How important is Kulemin to the success of this team?

Is Kulemin - Bolland - Raymond a big enough upgrade over Ashton - Bolland - Raymond to not make a deal, even if you are getting trade market value, even a slight overpayment?

When did he do that? In a handful of exhibition games?

 

[Heis3nberg]

He's still miles ahead of his replacements. He's got great speed and is a monster on the backcheck. Can't really think of a reason why we'd want that gone Every team wants a guy like Kule.

Bolland on the other hand...well I just haven't seen it from him yet. He's looked really unimpressive in his limited games so far, but clearly now's not the time to make that call.



$5M per over 7 years, he's not going anywhere.

Clarkson will be the new leafs nation whipping boy for years because of that contract.

 

[RoyalGremlin]

I would like to see another 30 goal season from him.

 

[janesy12]

Trading your best defensive forward - and one of the best defensive forwards in the league - when your biggest flaw is team defense? Stupid.

While I'm a HUGE Kulemin fan, lets be real:
He is not our best defensive forward. That is clearly McClement.
I'll also take a stab at where he'll end up if he leaves.
Pittsburgh (Malkin)
KHL.
He's the only Russian left on a VERY North American team.
Then again we don't know what he's thinking. All we can do is speculate. However, he'll probably never be a 30 goal guy again, but he has the tools to score 20. It all depends on where he wants to play, and what he wants to make $$.

 

[ULF_55]

Trade him now.

Get the most from the asset you can.

Clarkson is the Leafs overpaid winger, no room for two of them.

Try and get Marcus Johansson/Ryan Johansen for him from Washington/Columbus.

Never have too many centers / prospect centers.

As an option play him 3:33 a game on the PP and see how many points he can get.

 

[Ace88*]

Trade him now.

Get the most from the asset you can.

Clarkson is the Leafs overpaid winger, no room for two of them.

Try and get Marcus Johansson/Ryan Johansen for him from Washington/Columbus.

Never have too many centers / prospect centers.

Why, so we can move them to the wing and watch them be inferior to Nik?