Leafs @ Bruins - Jan. 14th, 7:00pm - SN, SN 590

[CarltonTheBear]

Obviously.  My point is that there always seems to be an excuse for Kulemin, not so much for Bozak.  It's OK, like I said I like Kulemin well enough.

Last season Bozak finished with 28 points in 46 games. Kulemin had 23 points in 48 games. At even-strength Kulemin actually outscored Bozak 23-18. That's despite the fact that Bozak spent the vast majority of the season playing with Kessel and JVR in an offensive role while Kulemin's most frequent linemates with Grabovski and McClement in a defensive role.

I know that's last season and this is this season, but Kulemin gets way too much heat for how bad he was offensively last season when he outscored Bozak at even-strength despite going up against much better competition and playing with worse linemates. Heck, he almost outscored JVR at even-strength too.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I think Bozak's been fine this season and Kulemin's being used in an offense-killing role - 75% of his time with Jay McClement will do that to ya.

 

[Corn Flake]

I think Bozak's been fine this season and Kulemin's being used in an offense-killing role - 75% of his time with Jay McClement will do that to ya.

So my bet is Kulemin with Holland and Barfy Clarkson tonight. Both of those wingers deserve a chance with a centre who has some offense in him.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I think Bozak's been fine this season and Kulemin's being used in an offense-killing role - 75% of his time with Jay McClement will do that to ya.

So my bet is Kulemin with Holland and Barfy Clarkson tonight. Both of those wingers deserve a chance with a centre who has some offense in him.

I'd like that.  I admittedly don't watch the games as closely as a scout to know these things very well, but to me Holland has seemed fairly intelligent in the Leafs end so I wouldn't mind seeing how he could handle an increased role for awhile.  I doubt it could be much worse.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I like Kulemin, but he sure gets a pass around here for not producing more.  As opposed to, say, Bozak, who gets dissed all the time but actually finds the scoresheet.

If he gets a contract extension for more than the allotted percentage, I think you'll see things get excited pretty quick around here.

 

[ZBBM]

I like Kulemin, but he sure gets a pass around here for not producing more.  As opposed to, say, Bozak, who gets dissed all the time but actually finds the scoresheet.

Could replace Bozak's name with Kessel when it comes to you, could you not?

You could not.  I've gone out of my way to praise Kessel when he deserved it, most recently a couple of games ago in the accolades thread (you could look it up).  I'd be interested to hear your criticisms of Kulemin.

 

[ZBBM]

I like Kulemin, but he sure gets a pass around here for not producing more.  As opposed to, say, Bozak, who gets dissed all the time but actually finds the scoresheet.

You can't think of any reason why one might be producing while the other isn't?

Obviously.  My point is that there always seems to be an excuse for Kulemin, not so much for Bozak.  It's OK, like I said I like Kulemin well enough.

I doubt you'd see the same "excuses" said about Kulemin if he had been placed on the 1st line when he came to the Leafs and never moved from there and was putting up 50~ points.  Similarly, if Bozak was playing a different role on the team expectations would shift for him as well.

Refresh my memory (and this isn't sarcasm): where did he play the season after he got 30 and went down to 7?  Who were his linemates?

 

[Can8899]

I'd love to see these lines tonight:

Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
Clarkson - Kadri - JVR
Raymond - Holland - Kulemin
Ashton - McClement - Orr

1st line had some good chemistry a while back, hopefully they can find it again.

2nd line with the 2 big physical wingers can hopefully open up some space for Kadri

3rd line has a decent mix of offense (for a 3rd line anyway), speed and checking abilities.

4th line.  Can eat up a few minutes when needed.

JVR could be moved back with Bozak and Kessel for PP's and McClement used on the PK. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Refresh my memory (and this isn't sarcasm): where did he play the season after he got 30 and went down to 7?  Who were his linemates?

Same linemates in both seasons for the most part (Grabs and Mac of course). I remember that season somewhat well. Wilson kept them together even though they weren't producing very much, and then Grabovski and Mac started to put up a little more points while Kulemin just couldn't get it together. His ice-time dropped a bit and his powerplay time was cut in over half. His shooting percentage that season was also 6.5% which is well below his career average and the NHL average.

Basically he had one season where his shooting percentage was way above normal and he scored a ton in an offensive role, a season where it was well below normal and he struggled in an offensive role, and then a season where it came back to normal and he put up an impressive amount of points in a defensive role.

 

[Arn]

I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of role Kulemin plays at the Olynpics for Russia. Will they put him in a more offensive spot? It'll be a small sample size of course but could be interesting none the less

 

[drummond]

hoepfully Phil has had his daily portion of cookies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orZwIDDKvlQ

 

[ZBBM]

Refresh my memory (and this isn't sarcasm): where did he play the season after he got 30 and went down to 7?  Who were his linemates?

Same linemates in both seasons for the most part (Grabs and Mac of course). I remember that season somewhat well. Wilson kept them together even though they weren't producing very much, and then Grabovski and Mac started to put up a little more points while Kulemin just couldn't get it together. His ice-time dropped a bit and his powerplay time was cut in over half. His shooting percentage that season was also 6.5% which is well below his career average and the NHL average.

Basically he had one season where his shooting percentage was way above normal and he scored a ton in an offensive role, a season where it was well below normal and he struggled in an offensive role, and then a season where it came back to normal and he put up an impressive amount of points in a defensive role.

Thanks CTB.  I guess I keep coming back to the point that Kulemin seems to escape the kind of acid criticism that other players get even though most of us acknowledge he's got the skills to score more than he does.  I have been surprised, for example, by the harsh tone some folks use when getting on McClement for not scoring more.  He's a defensive specialist and can't help that RC overplays him and on the wrong line.  If anything, he deserves criticism for how bad the PK has been since October.

 

[iwas11in67]

I just hope we sneak at least a point out of this game. No big blowout please. (unless it's by us of course)

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Refresh my memory (and this isn't sarcasm): where did he play the season after he got 30 and went down to 7?  Who were his linemates?

Same linemates in both seasons for the most part (Grabs and Mac of course). I remember that season somewhat well. Wilson kept them together even though they weren't producing very much, and then Grabovski and Mac started to put up a little more points while Kulemin just couldn't get it together. His ice-time dropped a bit and his powerplay time was cut in over half. His shooting percentage that season was also 6.5% which is well below his career average and the NHL average.

Basically he had one season where his shooting percentage was way above normal and he scored a ton in an offensive role, a season where it was well below normal and he struggled in an offensive role, and then a season where it came back to normal and he put up an impressive amount of points in a defensive role.

Thanks CTB.  I guess I keep coming back to the point that Kulemin seems to escape the kind of acid criticism that other players get even though most of us acknowledge he's got the skills to score more than he does.  I have been surprised, for example, by the harsh tone some folks use when getting on McClement for not scoring more.  He's a defensive specialist and can't help that RC overplays him and on the wrong line.  If anything, he deserves criticism for how bad the PK has been since October.

I think when people get upset at McClement they are moreso upset at Carlyle for giving him so many minutes, but it also ends up falling on McClement too.

 

[ZBBM]

Refresh my memory (and this isn't sarcasm): where did he play the season after he got 30 and went down to 7?  Who were his linemates?

Same linemates in both seasons for the most part (Grabs and Mac of course). I remember that season somewhat well. Wilson kept them together even though they weren't producing very much, and then Grabovski and Mac started to put up a little more points while Kulemin just couldn't get it together. His ice-time dropped a bit and his powerplay time was cut in over half. His shooting percentage that season was also 6.5% which is well below his career average and the NHL average.

Basically he had one season where his shooting percentage was way above normal and he scored a ton in an offensive role, a season where it was well below normal and he struggled in an offensive role, and then a season where it came back to normal and he put up an impressive amount of points in a defensive role.

Thanks CTB.  I guess I keep coming back to the point that Kulemin seems to escape the kind of acid criticism that other players get even though most of us acknowledge he's got the skills to score more than he does.  I have been surprised, for example, by the harsh tone some folks use when getting on McClement for not scoring more.  He's a defensive specialist and can't help that RC overplays him and on the wrong line.  If anything, he deserves criticism for how bad the PK has been since October.

I think when people get upset at McClement they are moreso upset at Carlyle for giving him so many minutes, but it also ends up falling on McClement too.

Probably so.

 

[pmrules]

Refresh my memory (and this isn't sarcasm): where did he play the season after he got 30 and went down to 7?  Who were his linemates?

Same linemates in both seasons for the most part (Grabs and Mac of course). I remember that season somewhat well. Wilson kept them together even though they weren't producing very much, and then Grabovski and Mac started to put up a little more points while Kulemin just couldn't get it together. His ice-time dropped a bit and his powerplay time was cut in over half. His shooting percentage that season was also 6.5% which is well below his career average and the NHL average.

Basically he had one season where his shooting percentage was way above normal and he scored a ton in an offensive role, a season where it was well below normal and he struggled in an offensive role, and then a season where it came back to normal and he put up an impressive amount of points in a defensive role.

Thanks CTB.  I guess I keep coming back to the point that Kulemin seems to escape the kind of acid criticism that other players get even though most of us acknowledge he's got the skills to score more than he does.  I have been surprised, for example, by the harsh tone some folks use when getting on McClement for not scoring more.  He's a defensive specialist and can't help that RC overplays him and on the wrong line.  If anything, he deserves criticism for how bad the PK has been since October.

I think when people get upset at McClement they are moreso upset at Carlyle for giving him so many minutes, but it also ends up falling on McClement too.

Probably so.

But McClement's not playing those minutes to score a goal.  He's playing all those minutes to prevent a goal.  He plays a lot of minutes because the other teams' good players play a lot of minutes.

 

[pmrules]

Any final word on Clarkson's flu/elbow?

 

[drummond]

Any final word on Clarkson's flu/elbow?

Christine Simpson  @SNChrisSimpson 
Follow
David Clarkson will take warm up and expects to play tonight vs Boston on Sportsnet ON.

 

[mr grieves]

But McClement's not playing those minutes to score a goal.  He's playing all those minutes to prevent a goal.  He plays a lot of minutes because the other teams' good players play a lot of minutes.

I think criticism, against Carlyle not McClement, is that the team can't afford to spend 20 minutes a night trying to prevent a goal. The Leafs need their good players playing a lot of minutes against other teams' good players and scoring more goals than they give up. It was easier when the team had a center as versatile as Bolland, who could both center a shutdown line and help score when the opportunity presented itself.

 

[bustaheims]

jonasTSN1050: Projected Lines vs. BOS: JVR-Bozak-Kessel. Raymond-Kadri-Lupul. Ashton-McClement-Kulemin. McLaren-Holland-(Clarkson).

jonasTSN1050: Projected Defence: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf. Gleason-Franson. Gardiner-Rielly. (Ranger). Goaltender: Bernier.

jonasTSN1050: Orr has the flu.

jonasTSN1050: Clarkson will play after all.

That sound you're hearing is the sound of my head exploding.