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Kooled-Off Kulemin

Busta Reims said:
Erndog said:
"for what ever reason" Busta?  Kulemin has 1 SHOT in his last 5 games.  I think the reason he isnt scoring is pretty clear, he's been terrible this year.  It's really too bad too he showed all sorts of promise last year.  I expect him to be better going forward however (last year Foligno had 1 goal at this time and look at him this year).  Confidence is a helluva thing.
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I was thinking more before the last few games, where he was still shooting the puck and getting some chances. I also wouldn't say he's been terrible this year. Offensively, yes, he's been a real disappointment, but, the rest of his game has, for the most part, been pretty solid.
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Yup, I mean the Leafs' second goal last night was a perfect example of the "rest of his game". Singlehandedly creates a neutral zone turnover, quick transition into the zone with speed, smart drop pass, goes to the front of the net and screens the goalie on Franson's goal. Didn't get a point on the play.

His confidence must be at an all-time low, but he's still doing those little things that make him a very valuable two-way player. I've rarely seen a player as snakebit as he's been, and it's only a matter of time before he starts hitting the back of the net again.

He's been terrible or bad only to those going by stats alone to judge his performance.
 
Beowulf said:
Busta Reims said:
Erndog said:
"for what ever reason" Busta?  Kulemin has 1 SHOT in his last 5 games.  I think the reason he isnt scoring is pretty clear, he's been terrible this year.  It's really too bad too he showed all sorts of promise last year.  I expect him to be better going forward however (last year Foligno had 1 goal at this time and look at him this year).  Confidence is a helluva thing.
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I was thinking more before the last few games, where he was still shooting the puck and getting some chances. I also wouldn't say he's been terrible this year. Offensively, yes, he's been a real disappointment, but, the rest of his game has, for the most part, been pretty solid.
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Yup, I mean the Leafs' second goal last night was a perfect example of the "rest of his game". Singlehandedly creates a neutral zone turnover, quick transition into the zone with speed, smart drop pass, goes to the front of the net and screens the goalie on Franson's goal. Didn't get a point on the play.

His confidence must be at an all-time low, but he's still doing those little things that make him a very valuable two-way player. I've rarely seen a player as snakebit as he's been, and it's only a matter of time before he starts hitting the back of the net again.

He's been terrible or bad only to those going by stats alone to judge his performance.
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One example doesn't really make his season any different though. If he were making that play every other game and not getting a point for it many people would be a bit more forgiving.

He's been terrible (or having a bad season) based upon his results. That's a pretty significant barometer of how someone is playing. He's currently on pace for 31 pts, a regression from the last 2 years. However you want to define it, it's not good. He's been his normal self defensively I think, which is good, but fans and management alike are starting to expect more of him than a good two way playing 30 pt player.

If expectations are 45-50 pts with good defensive play, then he's also a fair ways off the mark. I hope he can start to put it together because he's a tough player to play against when he's on. Tough on the forecheck, hard to knock off the puck, can play D and can score.

 
Potvin29 said:
How's he been terrible based on his results if his defensive play, in your opinion, has still been good?
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Well "terrible" was the word used in the original post. I used the original word and put my own description ,having a bad season, in brackets.

So he's having a bad season based on his lack of scoring. Many of the newspapers had him rated very poorly at the halfway mark of the season, regardless of his good defensive play.

Simply put, he's having a bad year (so far). Continue to make snide comments about numbers (Busta) and the like, but it doesn't change how he's played to date.
 
Chev-boyar-sky said:
Potvin29 said:
How's he been terrible based on his results if his defensive play, in your opinion, has still been good?
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Well "terrible" was the word used in the original post. I used the original word and put my own description ,having a bad season, in brackets.

So he's having a bad season based on his lack of scoring. Many of the newspapers had him rated very poorly at the halfway mark of the season, regardless of his good defensive play.

Simply put, he's having a bad year (so far). Continue to make snide comments about numbers (Busta) and the like, but it doesn't change how he's played to date.
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I agree he's been below average in terms of pure offensive stats but I don't agree that he's having a bad year, he's doing a lot of little things right to help win games aside from that.

The other night against the Rangers I singled him out for praise ( he wasn't lights out and others may have been more deserving of an HM in the MotM thread, still ) and a couple days later I read a comment from Wilson that largely echoed what I said about him from that night.

I think some are ignoring a lot of context when making generalized comments about him, I think he'll be fine given the situation this year.

One bonus, should he continue along at his pace, Burke will have some ammo come contract time.
 
Have to imagine he'll turn it around at some point, his shooting % is so far below his previous worst year that I can't imagine it continuing this way for too much longer.  I'm sure there are lots of little things contributing to his lack of offensive production - confidence, 2:00/less TOI a game, etc.  That line as a whole has struggled to find the same spark as last season, but hopefully they do.
 
Chev-boyar-sky said:
Bullfrog said:
Because defensive play is unimportant.
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I too am thrilled with having a 2nd line, 30 pt winger.

Production is unimportant. Hey look, I can be a smart donkey too!
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People, can't you see how Kulemin is driving a wedge between all of us?
 
He's regressing.

Hey, when someone tried to argue that here about Kessel, they were proved dead wrong... Maybe lightning will strike twice.
 
I think that dipsie doodle he pulled in front of the Canes net last night may be a sign that he's ready to break out of his funk soon. Hopefully that's the case. It would have been a real pretty goal if it would have worked.
 
We keep saying every game that Kulemin appears ready to break out of his funk, and yet every game and he doesn't score.  :(
 
When you're in a funk like this - it's a process.  A long, slow, cruel process.

Look at a guy like Bryan Little.  31 goals.  Then 13 goals.  Then 18 goals.  Started off this season with no goals - now has 11 in his past 15 or 16 games.

Confidence is a weird thing.
 
Potvin29 said:
When you're in a funk like this - it's a process.  A long, slow, cruel process.

Look at a guy like Bryan Little.  31 goals.  Then 13 goals.  Then 18 goals.  Started off this season with no goals - now has 11 in his past 15 or 16 games.

Confidence is a weird thing.
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Yeah but this is more than a funk. When Kessel went scoreless for a big stretch last season he was getting quality chances constantly so you knew at any moment now he will start scoring and he did. Kulemin is hardly getting any quality chances and is invisible offensively for huge stretches. Even last night, when he did that great deke to get in front of the net all he could do is muster a weak floater wide of the net. He won't score like that.
 
I think Kulemin was very deeply affected by the crash in Russia that killed one of his best friends and mentor, Korolov. This kind of thing cannot be underestimated on human being
 
Highlander said:
I think Kulemin was very deeply affected by the crash in Russia that killed one of his best friends and mentor, Korolov. This kind of thing cannot be underestimated on human being
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I hadn't thought of that. I knew Grabbo was tight with some of them. It's a good consideration.

The one thing that I do credit him with for the most part is that I think he is trying. I don't see a shell of a player not making the effort most games. And his two way play has been respectable in my opinion.
 
Highlander said:
I think Kulemin was very deeply affected by the crash in Russia that killed one of his best friends and mentor, Korolov. This kind of thing cannot be underestimated on human being
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That's a good point.
 
He's starting to look like he's getting that jump back into his step that seemed to be missing for most of the season. Hopefully, that will translate into goals very soon.
 
Loss of Korolev hits Kulemin hard
Nikolai Kulemin and Igor Korolev would meet last winter in Toronto every one or two weeks for dinner.

It wasn?t unusual for Kulemin to talk to Korolev after Maple Leafs games to get some advice from his close friend.

Kulemin acknowledged on Wednesday that it is with a heavy heart that he is participating in Leafs training camp, just two weeks after Korolev died in the Locomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash.

Kulemin and teammate Mikhail Grabovski were among the mourners Sunday at Korolev?s funeral in Toronto.

?It?s bad when you lose a friend, especially one of my best friends,? Kulemin said. ?I feel (just) okay. You have to go on.

?When you go on the ice, you forget about everything else and you just go out and play.?

Kulemin met Korolev when the two were teammates with Magnitogorsk in Russia, and were linemates. They played together for three seasons, from 2005 to 2008. On Sept. 6, the day before the crash, Korolev turned 41.

?I spoke with him that evening, just said: ?Happy Birthday? and good luck, because it was going to be his first game as an (assistant) coach,? Kulemin said.

?He was a good teacher. The young guys respected him a lot, and nobody said any bad words about him.?

Still sad to read that.
 
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