Nikolai Kulemin Can’t Cross The Pond Fast Enough
January 28th, 2008 by SteveThe Leafs need an injection of youth. They also need an injection of scoring skill. If they land a top draft pick this season, either through their own misfortunes or trades, it will help greatly. Unfortunately very few picks aside from next year’s John Tavares are likely to be close to NHL ready. Since this is the case, the Leafs should be looking forward to giving their younger players increased ice time. More time for Steen, more time for Stajan, more time for Stralman, more time for Tlusty. Don’t bother icing Tucker unless you can convince him to waive his no-trade clause. If he wants to say in Toronto, let him - while playing for the Marlies.
Looking towards the future of next season and beyond, I think it appropriate to examine the current status of the Leafs top prospect who could step in and support the team in the near future, Nikolai Kulemin. The website RussianProspects.com rates Kulemin as an 88 out of 100. That places him 3rd out of the prospects who have yet to make it to the NHL, behind goaltender Semen Varlamov (Capitals), and defenseman Denis Grebeshkov (Oilers). He’s currently ranked in a tie with Alexei Cherapanov (Rangers) as the best Russian forward, and sits alone as the best Left Winger. Just for comparison’s sake, readers should realize that an 88 is the same ranking held by Alexander Radulov, and is slightly better than the 87 of Ilya Bryzgalov, and Dmitri Kalinin. Alexander Semin and Andrei Markov are both ranked as 89’s. Basically if he plays up to the ranking, Kulemin will be a borderline All-Star calibre player.
Kulemin is currently 5th in the RSL in goals with 18, behind 4 players who are at least 5 years his senior. He had 37 goals last season in 68 games (including the playoffs), setting a Mettalurg Magnitogorsk team record.
The development trajectory of Kulemin may have more to do with how the Leafs fare in the future than most fans realize. If it turns out well, people may remember Ferguson more fondly than they are at the moment.
Posted in Prospects
