Everyone saw this one coming from a mile away, but we’ll take hockey news where we can get it: Nik Kulemin is officially heading to the KHL to join Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Kulemin has played 142 games with the club in the past, from 2005 to 2008 before joining the Leafs‘ organization.
There’s been some discussion over the possibility that, should the lockout drag on for months, Kulemin may not bother returning to the Leafs, though they’d badly need him. Obviously we’re far from that now, but it’s something to keep in mind considering he is playing in his hometown.
Regardless, a positive to take from this is that a young Leafs player will keep his skates on the ice against good competition and will move the puck with some good linemates. That may not be the case for all locked out NHL’ers this winter.
There are even rumblings that Sidney Crosby’s reps have contacted Metallurg as well.
Updated: Francois Allaire is out as the Leafs’ goaltending coach.
A few links for your Monday morning after the jump;
The Additions (Jeffler at MHQ)
Lessons of Lockouts Past (BCP)
The new CBA and the Kessel conundrum (VLM)
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