Home » ’09-10 Player Reviews: Nik Kulemin

’09-10 Player Reviews: Nik Kulemin

by on June 22, 2010 in Uncategorized - 77 Comments

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We’ve partnered up with Pension Plan Puppets to bring to you a Player Review series, where we will be evaluating and grading the 2009-10 season for every Leaf who featured in a significant number of games for the Blue and White last season, with an eye towards 2010-11. Today we feature Nikolai Kulemin, profiled by PPP:

The Summary:

Nikolai Kulemin continued his development into the Maple Leafs‘ best two-way forward just in time for his agent to try to play hardball with Papa Burke over his new contract. Rumours are that they are $1M apart but the reality is that if Kulemin, as he has indicated with his words and his actions, wants to play in the NHL then the Leafs have the upperhand thanks to the CBA.

But why is this dragging out? Well, let’s look at his season to see why Kulemin might expect more from Burke.

The Discussion:

Well, we know where this is going no matter what so knock yourselves out.

Audience Participation:

Rate Kulemin below on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) based on his performance relative to his potential and your expectations for the season.

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  • dlb

    @ Jordan:
    Why don’t you take the 3rd line and pay his agent a little visit then?!

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  • BurkiewillFINISHthis
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  • Bob is your uncle

    @ dlb:
    .
    Did you try your avatar again? Alec said he fixed it yesterday.

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  • dlb

    @ Bob is your uncle:
    Thanks, bob, I missed that and would not have known to try again. “Your profile photo has been submitted for review.” The week keeps getting better.

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  • boguscharlie

    @ 2 Minutes for Looking so Guru:
    what am i talking about? Kulemin played 78 games. Maybe he didn’t actually play a game with the Marlies, but he wasn’t on the ice October 1st, 2009 when the Leafs season opened against the Canadiens. Look it up, Rosehill & Stalberg were in the lineup – not Kulemin. So I guess my point is better made if I say he did not start the season in the Leafs lineup. Does that satisfy??? Lol
    Cheers.
    (and true, I am boguscharlie, don’t know who the ‘real’ charlie is…)

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  • BeLeafer

    @ boguscharlie:
    Kule was the 13th man/healthy scratch for 3 games in the first 10 games or so….

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  • Charlie
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  • wardus

    I give Kuli a 8.5 out of 10. Definitely a keeper for the Leafs.

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  • Tim Horton

    @ BeLeafer:
    They put Kuli down to make room for another player can’t remember how it all went down, but anyway they called him back up pretty much the next day and he was the odd man out for the first bit.

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  • Bring the Cup Home

    i’d give kulemin a solid 9/10 based on expectations. for him to get a 9/10 from me this season, he’d have to play the same solid board game and two-way game, but add about 15 points to his totals.

    of course, he’d have to sign here first.

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  • Cameron

    I’m glad to see the Habs have destroyed their team once again. The Plekanec signing is a good thing for the Leafs. Horton I would have preferred to go elsewhere, because he will be good in Boston. That said, I kinda wonder if Horton is certain to remain a Bruin, or if Chiarelli really wants Kaberle. We know he’s tried for him twice before, and with Seguin/Hall, and a healthier lineup, he doesn’t really need Horton. Could Horton be headed to Toronto on Thursday night?
    -

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  • Charlie
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  • Charlie
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  • kaz

    9/10

    I really liked Kulemin this year, was excellent to watch.

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  • Tim
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  • dlb
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  • lonsmos2

    Jordan wrote:

    @ Alex Tran:
    Subtract the 4.25 for Kaberle too. I wont believe for a second Burke doesnt offer Kovalchuk money

    I sure hope so.

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  • lonsmos2
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  • lonsmos2
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  • BeLeafer

    @ dlb:
    boston is really thin on the blue line now…. after todays moves I would not be suprised to hear talks between the Bruins/Leafs, obviously to deal again Burke would want a pretty solid offer from Chia-pet… we’ll see.

    is Buffalo going to come back into the fold???…. Dallas needs a puck moving D man more than any team in the league.. 3 more days until the draft

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  • BeLeafer

    @ lonsmos2:
    so minus Kabs we’re at around 20 Mill, but we still have to add more to whatever Hanson, Mitchell and Kule sign for

    we’re honestly in a decent spot right now cap wise… lot’s of room to make moves

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  • Ksavz

    @ BeLeafer:
    im pretty sure Hanson signed like a month or 2 ago no? for like..900 G’s or sum?

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  • Michael Stephens

    7/10.
    He came to the rink game in, game out, ready to play whatever the circumstance. I was really hoping that he’d have more of a break-out year, so his earlier regression was truly bothersome. I want to believe that this guy could be a 20 goal, 30 assist sort of guy (and his agent wants Burke to believe the same thing) but turning 24 and having two sub 40 point seasons to his name, I’m not 100% convinced he’s capable of it. Heck, he scored almost 42% of his points in March (15/36pts).
    The issue surrounding his contract demands make me believe we’ll have problems with him come october. Due to the CBA, the buds can give him a cheap qualifying offer and there’s nothing to be done. But if that happens, we’ll see Kulemin minus the heart and effort…or perhaps not at all.

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  • puckingicehole

    Kulemin gets a 8/10. He’s a frickin bear on skates. I’m a little surprised to see how guys bounce off him when they’re digging on the boards, and he’s only gonna get stronger on his skates the next few years. The biggest difference in the second half was increased confidence; he’s realizing he can do the things he did in Russia and he’s going into traffic to get good scoring chances.

    I’m gonna be pissed if we lose him.

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