Kulemin Kicked Back Up To Leafs
January 11th, 2009 by Steve
Three games, zero points… back to the NHL!
So much for providing him with an opportunity to hone his craft.
He was playing with the likes of Boyd Devereaux and Darryl Boyce - not so sure why you’d demote a young player with offensive potential to play him on a checking line. Anyone else follow that logic? Me neither. Either way, he played three games while over the same stretch the Leafs played two. The Marlies have lost two straight, and Kulemin managed to put 5 shots on goal.
So now that Grabovski is sitting out for a couple of games, the Leafs bring Kulemin back to the big leagues, in all likelihood to throw him back in the line up before their game at the ACC against Nashville on Tuesday.
The lack of explanation from management does leave one wondering what the thinking is on all of this though. The Leafs are now carrying 14 forwards and 8 D men on their roster, with Jeremy Williams and Mike Van Ryn on injured reserve.
This may portend another move on the part of Brian Burke, but nothing has transpired to this point.
Interesting Kulemin stat: 4 of his 7 goals have come in the first period. The Leafs as a team have only scored 28 first period goals. Thus he has provided one seventh of the Leafs team offense in the first period. Maybe his forechecking skills are more useful than some realize?
Posted in Announcements, Prospects
9 Responses to “Kulemin Kicked Back Up To Leafs”
By eyebleaf
on Jan 12, 2009
This is dumb. Period.
By Gerald Norton
on Jan 12, 2009
I highly doubt he was happy about the demotion. Does it spell an imminent break in ties? Who knows, but it was widely speculated that Kulemin was guaranteed an NHL roster spot in order to entice him to NA. His demotion caught a few pundits off guard, and signaled a change in attitude vis-a-vis Kulemin as a top prospect. However, the KHL no longer seems the viable alternative it was once considered.
By koopa kid
on Jan 12, 2009
I don’t think sending Kulemin down signaled a change in attitude at all, we had a guy who we traded to be a top six player getting third line minutes, and we had a struggling young player who couldn’t afford to keep getting demoted by Wilson every night. Lots of teams keep good young players down in the AHL, and I wish we could have used that team as a development team earlier.
Also, I’m pretty sure Kulemin came to town saying that he’d play in NA in the AHL if he had to, but we’ll see how much he meant it.
By Marco
on Jan 12, 2009
This is the year to take the growing pains…
However surprised he wasn’t with Tlusty in the AHL.
By bkblades
on Jan 12, 2009
Two things jump out at me about this bit of news:
First, this demotion to the AHL doesn’t affect his status as a prospect that much. Kulemin’s scouting report stated that he was an “in-betweener”. As in Kuleemin could eventually play as a top 6 forward because he has the skill set, or he could just as easily slide into the 3rd line and become a top checker. Kulemin doesn’t have the explosive offensive ability, but he’s much better defensively than a lot of players at his age. I actually see similarities with Nik Hagman - defensively responsible, doesn’t shy away from the corners, and can pot a few goals. The fact that there are a number of media, fans, and outside observers alike surprised that Kulemin isn’t lighting the lamp with regularity early on means they don’t really know much about the Leafs prospects (again).
Secondly, is it just me, or does the Leafs need to do a much better job in coordinating things with the Marlies? I’m not a fan of Greg Gilbert at all, but in either case, it’s like both teams have different agendas when it comes to utilizing players called up or sent back down. It’s frustrating to see the lack of cooperation, and I wonder more and more if the Leafs scouting is actually that “bad” as people seem to believe or the ultimate problem lies more with prospect development and management.
By Steve
on Jan 12, 2009
I’m with you on the whole Greg Gilbert problem. Between giving huge minutes to Clemmensen in the Calder Cup run last season, to over playing the vets on the Marlies, I’m not so sure what the point is in most of what he’s doing.
The Marlies are a DEVELOPMENTAL organization, that are OWNED by MLSE. Their entire program should revolve around developing young players by giving them copious opportunities to succeed in important situations at a lower level. Giving vets big minutes in some misguided effort to finish as far up the standings as possible is a bit beyond me.
I think it might have something to do with MLSE trying too hard to sell Marlies tickets by insisting the team is competitive. If they focused on the young up and coming Leafs more, people might take to the games a bit better. I’d rather go watch young, future Leafs, rather than old, former Leafs.
I think most fans are in the same boat.
By Tom
on Jan 13, 2009
Berger just wrote that replacing Toskala will be hard to do after constantly griping that Toskala “will never win anything of consequence”.
This guy is an ugly, hypocritical cynic.
By Steve
on Jan 13, 2009
Unfortunately he isn’t wrong Tom.
Replacing Toskala will be difficult because of his salary, and the fact that the trade market for him is drying up with every crap start he plays.
The only way the Leafs can deal players of that ilk is if they play above - or at least to the level of - their best play. This is a sad consequence of the Leafs over-paying talent for years.
By The Meatriarchy
on Jan 13, 2009
I would bet that Gilbert is gone as Marlies coach at the end of the season. It would be an easy move for Burke to make. And frankly, I wouldn’t be the least bit disappointed.
Gilbert seems to coach the marlies as if it was an NHL team scrapping for a playoff spot. Heck the Leafs give the rookies on their squad more ice time in key situations.