Speculation: Will Nikolai Kulemin re-sign in Toronto?

[cookie]

he can go, bring up d'amigo full time.

Where will you slot D'Amigo? What will his role be? Will he be successful in playing that role? What will his production be in that role? How will his production be any different than Kulemin's assuming he's given 41's minutes? If he's sheltered, who else will cover for Kulemin's absence?

 

[Duke Silver]

Where will you slot D'Amigo? What will his role be? Will he be successful in playing that role? What will his production be in that role? How will his production be any different than Kulemin's assuming he's given 41's minutes? If he's sheltered, who else will cover for Kulemin's absence?

3rd line winger, shutdown role, probably at a lower offensive production rate, but still capable of handling Kulemin's forechecking and defensive assignments.

Jerry has a never-say-die attitude to his game. I wish we had 4 of him.

Edit: None of this is in any way advocating us trading Kulemin. Just describing what Jerry could bring to the table as a replacement.

 

[cookie]

I really like kulemin.

I think he is a great 3rd line winger with 2nd line injury fill/size.

He really needs a scenery change. I hate to part with him because I think he has 50pt potential while being a physical beast and he steps it up in the playoffs.

I think he could be worth some good value, and could definitely be used as a solid young roster piece to step up to get a good piece. That being said, I would not move him for less then a first rounder individually, even if I had to throw in a small taster.

I would be happy to hold onto him.

I'd be happy to hold onto him too: he's the kind of forward rookies learn from. And his 200 foot game is quite useful.

If he were to be traded, I'd want to see him go west somewhere like the Blues with someone who can score like Lupul for one of their centers and a prospect if possible.

 

[cookie]

3rd line winger, shutdown role, probably at a lower offensive production rate, but still capable of handling Kulemin's forechecking and defensive assignments.

Jerry has a never-say-die attitude to his game. I wish we had 4 of him.

So you will transition an AHLer to play shutdown. Did you know that these minutes are tough and also require the player to have some experience as to what he will be facing? Sure he may have a never say die attitude, but will it help transition the puck from the danger areas? How will he be able to mold his game to fit RC's systems (different from Spotts's) while giving the team meaningful minutes?

Will the line be able to score at all, let alone once in a blue moon? D'Amigo's a good player, but I'd say he's better served as a sheltered call up that can surprise lower pairings with his speed. Aside from that, he's not actually that good.

 

[Duke Silver]

So you will transition an AHLer to play shutdown. Did you know that these minutes are tough and also require the player to have some experience as to what he will be facing? Sure he may have a never say die attitude, but will it help transition the puck from the danger areas? How will he be able to mold his game to fit RC's systems (different from Spotts's) while giving the team meaningful minutes?

Will the line be able to score at all, let alone once in a blue moon? D'Amigo's a good player, but I'd say he's better served as a sheltered call up that can surprise lower pairings with his speed. Aside from that, he's not actually that good.

This makes me question if you ever even paid any attention to him when he was up with the Leafs.

Jerry has been getting groomed for this role throughout his entire AHL career and played amicably when he was called upon to play third-line minutes during his tenure with the Leafs. He was a hound after the puck and never took a shift off. I see no reason why he couldn't fill a shutdown role on the third line of this team in Kulemin's absence. He's a dogged forechecker who is not afraid to play the body and does not lack defensive acumen. Very good PKer too.

Putting him on the fourth line with 5-7 minutes a night limits his effectiveness for this team.

 

[cookie]

This makes me question if you ever even paid any attention to him when he was up with the Leafs.

Jerry has been getting groomed for this role throughout his entire AHL career and played amicably when he was called upon to play third-line minutes during his tenure with the Leafs. He was a hound after the puck and never took a shift off. I see no reason why he couldn't fill a shutdown role on the third line of this team in Kulemin's absence. He's a dogged forechecker who is not afraid to play the body and does not lack defensive acumen. Very good PKer too.

Putting him on the fourth line with 5-7 minutes a night limits his effectiveness for this team.

With D'Amigo playing shutdown, it'll be even harder for our top 6. What makes shutdown lines good is that they're able to neutralize top line threats and be a threat to score themselves. If he were paired with whatever mess we have right now (we can agree it's a caroussel before Bolland arrives) we still will not be getting any production.

D'Amigo is not a game-breaker in that he does not have anything in his offensive game better than Kulemin. He is able to hold his own, no doubt, but can he actually help the team win by being there?

It's kind of like Sjostrom being here. Yes D'Amigo can forecheck and hit better than him but can the Leafs take a chance in replacing Kulemin with a less offensive version of him? He just doesn't do anything exceptionally well aside from skate and forecheck. He won't be scoring much and the opposing team can focus on the main threats because of that. Plus Kulemin's one of the few forwards in the team that actually helps transition the puck out of our zone by giving our dmen someone to pass to on the boards.

That's why he should be a callup and relegated to PK and a few minutes here and there. Last year our 4th line was actually somewhat useful...this year not so. Why not have him replace a goon and have a solid Ashton-mcclement-D'Amigo line instead?

 

[DD03]

With D'Amigo playing shutdown, it'll be even harder for our top 6. What makes shutdown lines good is that they're able to neutralize top line threats and be a threat to score themselves. If he were paired with whatever mess we have right now (we can agree it's a caroussel before Bolland arrives) we still will not be getting any production.

D'Amigo is not a game-breaker in that he does not have anything in his offensive game better than Kulemin. He is able to hold his own, no doubt, but can he actually help the team win by being there?

It's kind of like Sjostrom being here. Yes D'Amigo can forecheck and hit better than him but can the Leafs take a chance in replacing Kulemin with a less offensive version of him? He just doesn't do anything exceptionally well aside from skate and forecheck. He won't be scoring much and the opposing team can focus on the main threats because of that. Plus Kulemin's one of the few forwards in the team that actually helps transition the puck out of our zone by giving our dmen someone to pass to on the boards.

That's why he should be a callup and relegated to PK and a few minutes here and there. Last year our 4th line was actually somewhat useful...this year not so. Why not have him replace a goon and have a solid Ashton-mcclement-D'Amigo line instead?

Just saying but Kulemin probably has one of the best shots on the team. If you really think he can only skate and forecheck you need to go back and watch the tape.

This guy use to play our top line and you guys are treating him like old stale meat. Relax on him. He's had his whole world shaken violently and we're starting to see him regain some confidence and people are asking for the guys head. Sheesh.

 

[The_Chosen_One]

Just saying but Kulemin probably has one of the best shots on the team. If you really think he can only skate and forecheck you need to go back and watch the tape.

This guy use to play our top line and you guys are treating him like old stale meat. Relax on him. He's had his whole world shaken violently and we're starting to see him regain some confidence and people are asking for the guys head. Sheesh.

I think we're dealing with the same segment who uses primary statistics out of context. Sure, he isn't a huge point getter, but he's given the toughest minutes amongst forwards. Lessen that - ala Grabo - and his production will increase.

If we're going to be so simplistic, I could argue that Kadri is more physical than Getzlaf or Perry, because he logged more hits than him. Most who have seem either play knows that we don't have that kind of explosive offensive zone talent on our team. Kulemin actually shares that ability to drive possession - being extremely strong along the board - and is willing to consistently get into dirty areas. Sure he doesn't have their offensive output, but he's a hell lot stronger than both defensively. We're probably not going to find forwards as dominant as either, but Kulemin surely satisfies significant aspects of their game. I just don't see our prospects especially D'Amigo replacing that yet.

 

[Raym11]

Every time i make a post about this guy it upsets me that nothing has changed. To me he's our best defensive forward. He also used to be turning into one of our best scorers. I cited his timid play style with the puck numerous times in the past and nothing has changed.

He just looks scared to have the puck. He didn't before. He's great at retrieving the puck, but when he gets it, it's like he doesnt want it. I think alot of it is to do with himself personally, as IN MY OPINION, once he was given a defensive role on the team he just completely gave up on scoring/felt as if nobody saw him as a scoring forward. Now he's just a puck bobbling mess when he has the puck, no confidence.


The times he does shoot, it's one of the best shots on the team outside of only Kessel. I'd love him to re-sign here, but not because it's the best thing for him as i think he will change as a player if he leaves and score 20+ goals again, but because how bad the Leafs need him. When/if he's gone, we'll notice just how awful our forwards are when they dont score.


I hate the fact that he's always the odd one out when it comes to giving players a chance to succeed offensively. Just like Grabo. Except Kulemin is great defensively. I think thats the downfall. they NEED Kulemin to play defensive minutes because nobody else can

 

[Orfieus]

If he is traded we will be lucky to get a second rounder for him.

He's nothing more then a third line forward who doesn't score. TO PK is 3rd worst so you can't say he is some PK specialist. So what does he bring to a team?

Get rid of him, we have a **** ton of 3rd line, none scoring, hard working forwards that are not going to ask for more then $1mill to play unlike Kuli who wants +$3mil to play.

Try to trade him and see if we can at least get a prospect with some upside.

 

[Hockey Talker29]

They should extend him at $3.5m per season for 3 to 4 years.

And they should consider giving him 2nd line PP time on the right side. He has one of the best shots on the team. If you can lift his confidence a bit, that side of his game will start to show again. Give him a chance to play some offense, and don't be surprised when he starts getting it done.

 

[BonMorrison]

TO PK is 3rd worst so you can't say he is some PK specialist. So what does he bring to a team?

But if we're using the same logic you're using right now, he was on the top PK unit of the #3 ranked PK unit last season. The Leafs have the same personnel on the PK as last season but are failing hard so does that tell you it's a player issue or a systematic issue?

 

[egd27]

But if we're using the same logic you're using right now, he was on the top PK unit of the #3 ranked PK unit last season. The Leafs have the same personnel on the PK as last season but are failing hard so does that tell you it's a player issue or a systematic issue?

Same coach too.

 

[TootooTrain]

This is random, but I was listening to the espn podcast interview with JVR. Apparently Kule has a great Boston accent when impersonating Greg Cronin. lol.

 

[thunderhawk905*]

3rd line winger, shutdown role, probably at a lower offensive production rate, but still capable of handling Kulemin's forechecking and defensive assignments.

Jerry has a never-say-die attitude to his game. I wish we had 4 of him.

Edit: None of this is in any way advocating us trading Kulemin. Just describing what Jerry could bring to the table as a replacement.

No...

 

[DD03]

They should extend him at $3.5m per season for 3 to 4 years.

And they should consider giving him 2nd line PP time on the right side. He has one of the best shots on the team. If you can lift his confidence a bit, that side of his game will start to show again. Give him a chance to play some offense, and don't be surprised when he starts getting it done.

I agree. I think he can handle the minutes too. And if he can't, get him in shape to. Get his game going.

 

[Peasy]

If we lose Kulemin because of Clarkson I'll be very upset...

 

[Divine]

It's amazing how Kulemin is putting up goals now that he's not restricted to defensive duties, isn't it?

Or maybe Don Cherry lit the fire under him.

 

[Cor]

If we can afford to keep him, I'm on board again.

 

[JAMmer124]

If we lose Kulemin because of Clarkson I'll be very upset...

Hopefully Kule's agent plays nice and doesn't use Clarkson's contract as a comparable...could certainly make the argument he deserves similar $$

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Has been a key spark to the Kadri Lupul duo.

Something I think Clarkson can provide also, but give him credit.

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

Wish Kulemin would shoot more. Barely averaging 1 shot on net per game

But it sounds like Carlyle's content with Lupul at LW, Kadri at C, and Kulemin at RW as the team's 2nd line.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Kulemin is better on the right side also, if we go Bolland Kulemin, Raymond. As we did in preseason, this line did work.

Bolland is the key. We need him back, would give us 3 strong lines to roll.

Nonis = Smart