Kooled-Off Kulemin

[leafplasma]

That is just it, he seems so quiet, so reserved, a complete lack of emotion.  I can't even recall in recent memory an interview with him between periods or on the leafs site by the press.  He is obviously a very unapproachable guy.  I mean he put up some decent goal totals his first two years in the league of 15 and 16 before last years 30 goal outburst so a penchant for sniping was set early on.  However, this year just boggles the mind and yes surprisingly outside of Kuli himself even who obviously hates the mic it isn't even talked about by RW or other sources, quite odd actually.

I don't think he's a great English speaker, so it's not surprising you wouldn't be seeing many interviews with him.

He has been here 4 years now, if he is not a great english speaker it is likely because he is not indulging enough.  He seems to be a quiet, reserved guy, nothing wrong with that.  I find it strange though that there hasn't been more talk by Leaf brass in general or even the media in regards to his huge drop off.  It may be because he is such a shy nice guy.  If he was running his mouth off and feeling entitled like say a Versteeg, he may have been run out of town by now.

You know what, sometimes cultures like to stay within their social circles. Nothing wrong with that, but to think he can speak just because he's been here four years strikes me as pretty ignorant. My grandfather has been in the country for almost 50 years and speaks nearly as broken and as accented as he did when he first came to Canada in the 1950s.

Not ignorant at all, I merely stated that he is reserved and quiet obviously.  If he were more willing to engage he simply would pick up the English language.  The same way if I were to move to Russia with Russian team mates, after 4 years I would pick things up, just by osmosis even or if I chose to I would take lessons because after all I plan on being there for 10 more years anyway.  Kuli has chosen not to do this and I have stated that their is nothing wrong with that, it just is not necessarily the norm but that is his choice.

Bender I also have a Dutch grandmother with a pretty thick accent who has lived in Canada since after the war.  She has learned to speak the language and engage and she has lived a pretty quiet life, she certainly does not play for the Leafs.

So I am not being ignorant but making an observation as to  Kuli being a pretty shy guy.  I am not belittling him for being like that just stating that if he wanted to engage he could.  He clearly doesn't want to because after 4 years he should be able to conduct an interview and I am sure he has in the past.  Broken english aside, I would love to hear what he has to say as a fan of Nik.  There has to be a reason the media does not seek him out.

You're just curious why he doesn't give interviews?

I dunno, I'm just not surprised and don't view it as odd to be honest.

Yes, I find it fascinating really.  He seems so mysterious.  I dug this up where he was interviewed with Grabs last year after their season and he conducted himself just fine:
http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=107751

 

[moon111]

I'll admit, sometimes I take a stab at Leaf players on this forum... just to stir the pot.  Kulemin is a good example.
Although a lot has been said about how the goaltending folded, I'm thinking allot of this team's confidence was riding on the offense of Kessel and company.  The 2nd line's struggles weren't a problem because the team was scoring.  When teams honed in on Kessel, the team couldn't score, couldn't win.  Suddenly players were scared to make mistakes.  The same team that played with confidence was now playing in fear.  I'm going to say one of the biggest problems the club faced was the 2nd line not living up to expectations, and the biggest contributer to that, for whatever reason, was Kulemin's complete lack of passion.  He went through the motions this season.