Kooled-Off Kulemin

[moon111]

Really impressed with how Kessel and Phaneuf have come out flying this season.  At the opposite end of the spectrum, I see Nikolai Kulemin.  The guy is tied with Luke Schenn for 3 points after 10 games.  Any top-six forward who's on pace for 8 assists on the year is a problem.  I'd have to say so far he's been my biggest disappointment so far.  Honestly think Brown has completely out-played him.  Does anyone else think Kulemin is either hurt, not prepared, or doesn't care, feels entitled to a job?

 

[sampson]

Really impressed with how Kessel and Phaneuf have come out flying this season.  At the opposite end of the spectrum, I see Nikolai Kulemin.  The guy is tied with Luke Schenn for 3 points after 10 games.  Any top-six forward who's on pace for 8 assists on the year is a problem.  I'd have to say so far he's been my biggest disappointment so far.  Honestly think Brown has completely out-played him.  Does anyone else think Kulemin is either hurt, not prepared, or doesn't care, feels entitled to a job?

He's had some really good chances to score so far.  When he has scored, his reactions are very excited, or almost relieved.  So i think he definitely cares.  It does seem like he's lost a step in his speed though.  Maybe he didn't train well over the summer.

 

[Kin]

While the points aren't there I've actually been fairly pleased with how Kulemin has played. He's generating chances and he continues to be really the only top 6 forward the team has who is to be reckoned with in terms of battles for the puck.

Right now nobody on that line is scoring at the clip they did last year. That's in part because of increased attention and it's in part because all three of those guys had break-out seasons last year and were bound to come down to earth a little. It's certainly miles too early to attribute to him any of the negative attitudes you suggest.

 

[pnjunction]

Does anyone else think Kulemin is either hurt, not prepared, or doesn't care, feels entitled to a job?

Nope.  Let me know when you have a tough couple of weeks at work so we can cast doubt on your work ethic and character.

It's a "contract year" for him actually.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

While the points aren't there I've actually been fairly pleased with how Kulemin has played. He's generating chances and he continues to be really the only top 6 forward the team has who is to be reckoned with in terms of battles for the puck.

Right now nobody on that line is scoring at the clip they did last year. That's in part because of increased attention and it's in part because all three of those guys had break-out seasons last year and were bound to come down to earth a little. It's certainly miles too early to attribute to him any of the negative attitudes you suggest.

While I agree with what you are saying here, I also think that it's only a matter of time until Kulemin and Co. start ripping it up again. That attention you are talking about is going to move towards Kessel I think, if it hasn't already and will eventually give the room back to Grabbo and Kulemin. MacArthur has already regained his presence IMO. Grabbo got the wonderful task of checking Malkin last night, so it was actually incredible that he was able to score two points while doing that.

I think this lower scoring clip is temporary.

 

[maplesyrup]

I think this lower scoring clip is temporary.

Yup. As is Kessel's... Most guys will eventually find their level. I hope the same holds true with Kulemin.

 

[Kin]

While I agree with what you are saying here, I also think that it's only a matter of time until Kulemin and Co. start ripping it up again.

While I agree that they'll probably start scoring more than they are at some point I think expecting them to duplicate what they did last year is pretty unlikely. If the Kessel line keeps getting legit first line ice time and producing accordingly then getting 80 goals and 180 points from the second line is a clip that even the best teams can't really maintain.

 

[gunnar36]

Kulemin always skates hard and backchecks hard, but I really wish he would assert himself more physically in the offensive zone.  He can be a force in the corners when he wants to be but he tends to rely on Grabbo and Mac to do the dirtywork in there.  I really think there is another level that he can still elevate his game to.

 

[Beowulf]

The effort is there for Kule just like it has been since day 1. He's been one of the hardest working Leafs ever since he came into the league.

He's still generating a ton of chances but hasn't been getting the bounces and I have noticed him fighting the puck at bit. But it's only a matter of time before he starts getting on the statsheet again.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

While I agree that they'll probably start scoring more than they are at some point I think expecting them to duplicate what they did last year is pretty unlikely. If the Kessel line keeps getting legit first line ice time and producing accordingly then getting 80 goals and 180 points from the second line is a clip that even the best teams can't really maintain.

Yeah, I'm not going to put specific expectations on them, but I think the scoring will come, as I'm simply agreeing that the effort is there, especially for Kulemin. Kuli is going to find the back of the net and it wouldn't surprise me if the goal totals drop a bit for all of them, but I think their overall game will be on par or a bit better IMO.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Kulemin always skates hard and backchecks hard, but I really wish he would assert himself more physically in the offensive zone.  He can be a force in the corners when he wants to be but he tends to rely on Grabbo and Mac to do the dirtywork in there.  I really think there is another level that he can still elevate his game to.

I think that is what's missing a bit, is his hitting and aggressiveness. He's not as punishing as he was ealy on, maybe he is focusing on the scoring too much

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

The whole line has cooled down from last year.They're getting alot of attention from the opposition. Grabs has started, Mac is improving and I expect Kuli will be putting them in the net soon. Tonight against the Sens may be the game.

 

[cw]

I think that line was going pretty well in preseason, they got quiet for a bit and now they're starting to come on. A couple of games ago, it was MacArthur folks were concerned about.

I doubt they'll duplicate last season. They're going to get checked more due to last season and Wilson has four lines now, including a hot 1st line to share the ice time with.

As long as they're cooking when Kessel cools down, which I think is inevitable, I'm ok with that.

Last night, Wilson used them in a checking role against Malkin because they've become a pretty decent two way line. That too doesn't show up on the stat sheet as noticeably.

 

[riff raff]

Last year, everyone on that line had career years. It's highly unlikely that they could all perform at that level again.

I'm not too concerned with Kulemin's scoring as long as he is contributing in other ways. And I think his scoring will come eventually.....

 

[moon111]

Does anyone else think Kulemin is either hurt, not prepared, or doesn't care, feels entitled to a job?

Nope.  Let me know when you have a tough couple of weeks at work so we can cast doubt on your work ethic and character.

It's a "contract year" for him actually.

I've had a bad day at work.  A week?  Never. 
To me, Kulemin looks like he spent his summer training in the Muskokas.

 

[Tigger]

Does anyone else think Kulemin is either hurt, not prepared, or doesn't care, feels entitled to a job?

Nope.  Let me know when you have a tough couple of weeks at work so we can cast doubt on your work ethic and character.

It's a "contract year" for him actually.

I've had a bad day at work.  A week?  Never. 
To me, Kulemin looks like he spent his summer training in the Muskokas.

Are you an NHL hockey player by any chance?

Of the disparate categories you have listed there the only one that seems remotely possible to me is 'hurt', the rest is ludicrous speed...

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

Assisted on both goals tonight. He must be doing something right.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Seriously, Kulemin has been known since coming here for his hard work, over multiple years, and a couple weeks where the pucks not going in for him/he's struggling he is being questioned for crap like this?

 

[L K]

I bet he's thinking of running back to the KHL.  Collect the paycheck and run Kuli.  Typical Euro.

 

[ZBBM]

There isn't a thing wrong with Kulemin's attitude.  Expecting him to score 30 goals each year is another matter; he's a 20-25 guy IMO who brings lots of intangibles.  A good (not elite) power forward, in other words.