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Kooled-Off Kulemin

He's not that far off. He still wins some battles, but he could be a little stronger on the puck as he has shown before. His drive to make things happen in front on the opposition net isn't quite there yet either.

He is coming back to support the D very well.
 
I've always thought that Kulemin's bread and butter was his combination of speed/strength plus his strong motor that he displayed in the previous 2 seasons.

I still think we're going to see the Kulemin of old re-surface at some point, but right now he looks sub-par in a few areas compared to how he's played in the past.
 
Potvin29 said:
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?
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Honestly. I mean, it's not like he's not producing at all, either. Sure, he's not quite as the level we saw last season, but, he's still contributing. On top of that, he started like this last season as well - he had 1 goal in 10 October games last season. Maybe he's just a slow starter.
 
Busta Reims said:
Potvin29 said:
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?
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Honestly. I mean, it's not like he's not producing at all, either. Sure, he's not quite as the level we saw last season, but, he's still contributing. On top of that, he started like this last season as well - he had 1 goal in 10 October games last season. Maybe he's just a slow starter.
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I dunno. Instead of parsing through his history, don't you think it's a time saver to assume he isn't ready, ate nothing but cheeseburgers this summer, feels entitled to his job, isn't nearly as professional as moon111 and is just a flat out nogoodnik?
 
Saint Nik said:
I dunno. Instead of parsing through his history, don't you think it's a time saver to assume he isn't ready, ate nothing but cheeseburgers this summer, feels entitled to his job, isn't nearly as professional as moon111 and is just a flat out nogoodnik?
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Maybe, but, how often have I been known to take the easy path?
 
I believe that starting last year some time, it was wilson's strategy, in general, to match the MKG line against the opposition's top offensive forwards and to have Kessel's line go up against 2nd tier guys.  That should take something away from their offense over the long run.
 
I just think teams are keying in on that line.  As Kessel's line continues to dominate, Kuli's line will start to collect the points.  He works hard every shift and doesn't give up, so I think we need to cut the guy some slack.

Maybe Kuli is distracted with the work ethic of some of the posters and is concerned that we may be hurt, not prepared, tired or feel entitled to post.
 
MacArthur wasn't looking very good a few games ago, either.  To my eyes, Kulemin is rounding into form and has been playing decent, albeit unlucky (see late third period yesterday), hockey.
 
Mordac said:
Lazy Swede.
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Classic!

z9GM4e40d7ba711d4.jpg
 
So Kulemin's no good now?  What about Komisarek?

Can we get a page that has the good/no good status of every Leaf updated every ten minutes? 

Thanks a bunch.
 
Kulemin is one of my favorite players.  Sorry to question if he's really prepared to start the season{s} or does he use the first month for conditioning purposes.  I'd just like to see him more pumped up and intense to start the season because I think he could be a way bigger force then he has been.
 
moon111 said:
I think he could be a way bigger force then he has been.
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I agree with you here and would like to see more from him too but I haven't seen anything consistently bad either, he seems to be giving an effort and has maintained a physical game, I wouldn't worry too much, he'll come around.
 
moon111 said:
Kulemin is one of my favorite players.  Sorry to question if he's really prepared to start the season{s} or does he use the first month for conditioning purposes.  I'd just like to see him more pumped up and intense to start the season because I think he could be a way bigger force then he has been.
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It just takes a while for teams to realize that they have to check Kessel now, not the Grabovski line.  It'll sort itself out once teams realize that they need to stop the 24 year old with multiple 30 goal seasons.
 
gunnar36 said:
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.
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Funny I though he was their most effective guy down low / along the boards the previous two seasons. He just doesn't seem his past self so far this year. He's been playing small/soft IMO. Maybe he's still dealing with the loss of Igor Korolev.

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/21/loss-of-korolev-hits-kulemin-hard
 
I'm starting to think it's time to scratch Kulemin for a game or two.  Not that I think he's been overly terrible, but he hasn't been as good as previous years, and I think that about his overall game, not just his offensive game (wherein the numbers speak for themselves).

He's responded well to being scratched in the past - might be a way to light a fire under him?
 
I don't think you scratch someone just for the sake of lighting a fire under them. He hasn't played his way out of a spot.
 
Bullfrog said:
I don't think you scratch someone just for the sake of lighting a fire under them. He hasn't played his way out of a spot.
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I certainly might give him a few shifts off... Just when he thinks he's going on. I agree he needs to be woken up a bit I mean, show of hands... Who (having followed his improvements from year to year) wasn't expecting him to be a touch better this year? 
 
I'll raise my hand. I didn't think he'd be this bad on offensive, but I thought he had a chance at meeting last year's production (note: I'll repeat, I thought he had a chance). I wasn't confident on him bettering his numbers. I did expect more progression in the other areas of his game. Can't really say I've seen that either.
 
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