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Toronto Sun: Kulemin Talks at Standstill

by on May 28, 2010 in Leafs News - 193 Comments

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From the Toronto Sun:

“What he is asking for is not what we are prepared to pay,” the Leafs general manager said Thursday, when asked why he and Kulemin’s agent, Gary Greenstin, keep giving identical terse quotes on the subject. “I think his agent is a good guy. But we will grind on and see what happens.”

There are rumours Kulemin is seeking $3 million US or higher after 36 points in 78 games, though the 23-year-old was one of the team’s most improved players.”

Kulemin’s agent is likely using Grabovski‘s $2.9 million x 3 year deal as a base for comparison, which isn’t completely out in left field. Nikolai finished the season very strong down the stretch, putting up 15 points in 16 March games alongside Bozak and Kessel. After the line was split up and Bozak was taken off it, Kulemin would go on to finish scoreless in 5 April games. So…. buyer beware. Kulemin is a great two-way grinder with a bit of offensive flair, but if you’re going to pay him like a top six forward, you better be ready to give him such a role because he’s not going to be creating 20+ goals by himself.

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  • peterbleafs

    flappypaddle wrote:

    peterbleafs wrote:
    Boston will trade their 15th overall pick for sure. If that is Kaberle then the Kessel trade basically comes down too.
    To Toronto: Kessel, 1st rounder 2010 (15th), Bergeron
    To Boston: Kaberle, Taylor Hall, Prospect, 1st in 2011, 2nd in 2010
    I am trying my best to follow you on this one so your saying Kaberle will bring in Bostons 1 st rnd 15th overall pick and Bergeron. Hmmm I like the idea but I think with the way bergeron played when Savard was out, raised his value. I could see Kaberle going to them for their the pick but I am thinking Wheeler or Bitz/ depth prospect would be far more realistic.

    Could be but Boston has Zach Hamil and Joe Colborne that have to get playing on the top 3 lines somewhere so its getting to the point where they trade one or both of them and stick with Bergeron or trade one of their top 3 centers. Bergeron was ranked as 3rd behind Kreijci and thats a lot of coin for a 3rd line center. Boston will have Hall so their forward group is stronger already and they need a puck mover to leverage Kreijci, Savard and Hall, that is Kaberle. He is the best of the available. Kaberle paired with Chara on the powerplay would be awesome especially with down low puckhandling skills of Savard and or Kreijci.

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  • peterbleafs

    Both Bergeron (24 years old) and Kaberle are UFAs at the end of next year as well. I really like hte idea of :

    Kulemin Bozak Kessel
    Stalberg Bergeron Kadri.

    These two lines let Kadri and Kessel focus on sniping with quality playmaking and defensively aware 2-way centers. And the left wing has scoring/speed/muscle for the corner work

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  • daniel marois

    @ Doorman:

    If Burke has his eye on a key FA or a roster player from a team that can’t afford the contract, then Lecavalier is a no-go. Only way Vinny comes to Toronto is if TB includes their juicy first round pick this year which is 6th-overall and you know Steve Yzerman is not trading that pick in his first turn as an NHL GM at a NHL Draft. Sorry Doorman, Vinny in no way shape or form is T.O. bound. My hope is that Dale Tallon in Florida wants to make a splash and goes after Kaberle and is willing to give up first rounder for the sake of reuniting Kabs with McCabe. Same in Atlanta, they need to make the playoffs as badly as Florida and would they be willing to give up their first rounder for Kabs to reunite him with Kubina? I know Atlanta was very close to a draft day deal for Kaberle last year, but they were unwilling to give up their first round pick. Drafting high certainly did not get Atlanta into the playoffs this season. Adding Kaberle to a corps with Kubina (he needs to re-sign in Atlanta first), Zach Bogosian and Tobias Enstrom would certainly help. I am sure Burke will be listening to offers from teams such as Florida, Atlanta and perhaps the Rangers because i can see them being dumb enough to dump a first rounder for Kaberle in a much bigger package deal.

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  • Kostas

    Can’t wait for Kadri to play with the club. One thing I loved about him is that he’s always in the right spot to put the puck in the net. It’s almost like the puck looks for him.

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  • Doorman

    What a depresing morning! As I can look out the loft window; Snow, Snow, And more fuckin
    Snow! WTF! I hope you guys are enjoying your weather back east.

    Whats golf? Hell I have not even put the top down on my stang convertiable this year. SUCKs!

    Merry Xmass!

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  • peterbleafs

    peterbleafs wrote:

    Both Bergeron (24 years old) and Kaberle are UFAs at the end of next year as well. I really like hte idea of :
    Kulemin Bozak Kessel
    Stalberg Bergeron Kadri.
    These two lines let Kadri and Kessel focus on sniping with quality playmaking and defensively aware 2-way centers. And the left wing has scoring/speed/muscle for the corner work

    Now if we pick up a Marleau…lookout in the playoffs since our third line all of a sudden gets pretty high quality.

    Kulemin/Stalberg Grabovski Dido/Caputi

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  • Michael Stephens

    @ daniel marois:
    Who could we realistically get for Kaberle from Florida? So many of their players are locked into long term, surprisingly economical deals with NTCs and NMCs. For the next three seasons the panthers have Booth, Horton and Weiss signed, with an 11.35 Million in combined cap hit. All, save for Horton already have clauses. Horton’s kicks in July 1, 2010. Would Florida be willing to give up on Horton and his fair value price tag of 4 mil a season till the end of 2012/2013 for Kaberle +? That would leave Burke and co with precisely 1 week to do it.
    .
    Would Weiss or Booth waive their NTC/NMCs to play puck in Toronto?

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  • Doorman

    Daniel: Ask your self a question here. Remebering the Phaneauf Trade.

    Who is on Burkes target list? Yzerman has got his hands tied with the Vinny Contract. He has to sign Stamkos next year. He is going to want a new start. Reality is a hard task master.
    Mabey Burke throws something else in there to sweeten the pot.

    I dont see burke letting Kabs go just for a pick, without getting a pair of legs to go with it.
    IE: prospect. DECENT!

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  • peterbleafs

    Have a look at NYI on nhlnumbers.com They have a lot of their young guys at rfa status this year so they have to choose who to sign. And frankly there is dick all talent there. Given our depth of talent I would not be against a good prospect like a D’Amigo and depth prospect like a Jimmy Hayes for their first round pick. NYI need players now. Waiting for a first rounder to pan out is 3 years. Hayes is about ready and D’Amigo maybe one year away.

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  • peterbleafs

    Doorman wrote:

    Daniel: Ask your self a question here. Remebering the Phaneauf Trade.
    Who is on Burkes target list? Yzerman has got his hands tied with the Vinny Contract. He has to sign Stamkos next year. He is going to want a new start. Reality is a hard task master.
    Mabey Burke throws something else in there to sweeten the pot.
    I dont see burke letting Kabs go just for a pick, without getting a pair of legs to go with it.
    IE: prospect. DECENT!

    I think Lecavelier goes to Montreal in a trade for Gionta even up. Gets Yzerman a high quality forward and $2.8million of cap room which gets you one more decent forward. Montreal gets a big horse up front and doesnt resign Plekanecs who was a bust in the playoffs.

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  • The Captain

    @ peterbleafs:

    agreed. i mean how long can garth snow last without making the playoffs. i think he will panic.

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  • Doorman

    peterbleafs wrote:

    Doorman wrote:
    Daniel: Ask your self a question here. Remebering the Phaneauf Trade.
    Who is on Burkes target list? Yzerman has got his hands tied with the Vinny Contract. He has to sign Stamkos next year. He is going to want a new start. Reality is a hard task master.
    Mabey Burke throws something else in there to sweeten the pot.
    I dont see burke letting Kabs go just for a pick, without getting a pair of legs to go with it.
    IE: prospect. DECENT!
    I think Lecavelier goes to Montreal in a trade for Gionta even up. Gets Yzerman a high quality forward and $2.8million of cap room which gets you one more decent forward. Montreal gets a big horse up front and doesnt resign Plekanecs who was a bust in the playoffs.

    Tampa needs a top D. Ofence is not their problem. IMHO.
    .

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  • Michael Stephens

    @ peterbleafs:
    I want to see how D’Amigo develops. The problem with trading in futures is that right now, D’Amigo’s stock is the highest it’s ever been. But what if he improves upon his freshman year? 34 points in 35 games was incredible. But better than that? He could be the sleeper of the draft! I say wait it out till his junior year. Yes, we could lose out on a high first round pick, but we could be giving up on a special player who will give the Leafs a chance at continued success 3 years down the line.

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  • Darkjester

    I’m really interested on how D’Amigo will turn out. He’s got 2nd liner written all over him.

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  • Bring the Cup Home

    one month until the fun begins and we can watch our forward corps begin transforming into burke/nonis vision. will be fun to watch, and even more fun come the fall when they start the season.

    if we only do two things this summer, i’d be happy:

    1. sign a top 6 forward from free agent pool.
    2. trade kaberle for a decent return. either a good young player or a 1st round pick and a prospect. Or part of a bigger trade involving Grabovski or someone.

    If they do nothing else other than that, I’d be happy. Then see what we have in all our youngsters and prospects for one more season, and next summer add a top tier free agent and another piece or two and make a run for the cup for a few years.

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  • daniel marois
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  • Cameron

    It was good to hear Bettman re-iterate yesterday that he believes the cap will rise by about 2 million. It sounds like it will be about 59 million next year, which means the Leafs can spend up to about 61.8 million with the bonus cushion, and then would still fall well below the actual cap at the end of the season.
    -
    That means, assuming Finger is buried, that the Leafs have about 14.25 million dollars to spend on resigning Kulemin and Hanson, adding 4 forwards, and a depth defensemen. On top of that, we can assume an extra 4.25 million in Kaberle’s contract will be converted into one of those forwards. Grabovski would also be fairly easy to deal. Burke could be in good standing to land a big name free agent if only Marleau will consider the Leafs, or Kovalchuk will except less than 8 million.
    -
    If I were Burke, I would spend the 8 million on Kovalchuk, if he were willing to adhere to Burke’s five year policy. What could possibly go wrong with Kovalchuk signed for 5 years at 8 million?

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  • Jordan

    I would go 7 years 7.5 mil. I bet if the per year is right, Bukre will do a bit longer then usual. After all, hes gonna want to make a big splash to get the 2nd overall pick talk to piss off.
    I think if we got a guy like kovalchuk it would be because he was able to get kessel, bozak, sign Kulemin and get Gustavsson. No way a guy like him signs here when our biggest story if a high draft pick.
    So in turn, Kovalchuk, Kessel >>>>2nd overall pick+1st+2nd. I wonder if Burke will get it done

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  • Doorman

    Jordan wrote:

    I would go 7 years 7.5 mil. I bet if the per year is right, Bukre will do a bit longer then usual. After all, hes gonna want to make a big splash to get the 2nd overall pick talk to piss off.
    I think if we got a guy like kovalchuk it would be because he was able to get kessel, bozak, sign Kulemin and get Gustavsson. No way a guy like him signs here when our biggest story if a high draft pick.
    So in turn, Kovalchuk, Kessel >>>>2nd overall pick+1st+2nd. I wonder if Burke will get it done

    Jordan: Burke says he aint going to hire a guy to any longer than 5 years! Lol.

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  • Doorman

    I like Kolvy! Hope we get him!

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  • flappypaddle
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  • BloodonIce
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  • flappypaddle

    peterbleafs wrote:

    flappypaddle wrote:
    peterbleafs wrote:
    Boston will trade their 15th overall pick for sure. If that is Kaberle then the Kessel trade basically comes down too.
    To Toronto: Kessel, 1st rounder 2010 (15th), Bergeron
    To Boston: Kaberle, Taylor Hall, Prospect, 1st in 2011, 2nd in 2010
    I am trying my best to follow you on this one so your saying Kaberle will bring in Bostons 1 st rnd 15th overall pick and Bergeron. Hmmm I like the idea but I think with the way bergeron played when Savard was out, raised his value. I could see Kaberle going to them for their the pick but I am thinking Wheeler or Bitz/ depth prospect would be far more realistic.
    Could be but Boston has Zach Hamil and Joe Colborne that have to get playing on the top 3 lines somewhere so its getting to the point where they trade one or both of them and stick with Bergeron or trade one of their top 3 centers. Bergeron was ranked as 3rd behind Kreijci and thats a lot of coin for a 3rd line center. Boston will have Hall so their forward group is stronger already and they need a puck mover to leverage Kreijci, Savard and Hall, that is Kaberle. He is the best of the available. Kaberle paired with Chara on the powerplay would be awesome especially with down low puckhandling skills of Savard and or Kreijci.

    I can see your point now and I could actually see him going to the Bruins but would we really want to have to face him that often? And if Burke can get it done well I would give him a ton of respect!

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  • Stanley goes to White Kessel

    1. Do NOT trade D’Amigo. He is an outstanding prospect with insane potential. Period.

    2. Re: Tampa Bay trading Vinni – Do we all not remember who left Vinni off of Team Canada for the Olympics…? Hmmm, perhaps his NEW GM!! Vinni is HIGH on Stevie Y’s list to trade because it pins him down way too much.

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  • the Surreal McCoy
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