PTO: [OTT] G Dustin Tokarski, D Calen Addison, and F Nikolay Kulemin sign PTOs with the Senators; Keean Washkurak and Michael Simpson invited to camp

[Acallabeth]

The MacArthur, Grabovski, Kulemin line was so sick to watch in my teens.

"The new Legion of Doom", the Leafs fans called them.

 

[JianYang]

It's been that kind of day.

Aside from kulemin, I had no idea that goligoski, and staal were still active players up until today.

 

[BKarchitect]

Last gasp shot at the NHL for the future Barys Astana legend.

 

[Cams]

This could be more about getting Kulemin into Canada. I'm not sure he wants his children growing up in Russia the way it has been lately

It was 2018 that Kulemin was trying to Canadian citizenship - I believe him and his family wanted to settle in the GTA but there some issue with immigration. The Toronto Star reporting that or where it was reporting at the time.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/court-gives-former-maple-leaf-nikolay-kulemin-second-chance-for-citizenship/article_07f9a6cb-f339-5f56-a912-6ee9182ac576.html

 

[TMLeafer]

Would be great to see him play again, if he's got anything left. Loved this guy's game early in his career.

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

Must have some history with Staios, no? Didn't play together on the Island but may have crossed paths somehow.

Wouldn't be suprised if this ended in a scouting/management role somehow

 

[wedge]

that's exactly the meme I had in mind. lol

 

[CanadienShark]

Isn't he like 80 years old now?

 

[HogTown06]

I remember him being fun to watch back in the day but he's probably in his 40s now. Hope he gets one last hurrah...

 

[REALTALK81]

Absolutely loved him when he was a Leaf. Would be cool to see him in an NHL game again.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

He apparently had a son playing triple A hockey in Toronto, so this might be him trying to get back, even if it's AHL.

 

[Zine]

IIRC, he likes living in Toronto.

He’s been steadily declining in the KHL, so he probably didn't receive any good offers.

If you’re gonna make Toronto your home, and you’re not getting what you want in the KHL, might as well try one last kick at the can in the NHL…. no matter how unlikely the odds are.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Must have some history with Staios, no? Didn't play together on the Island but may have crossed paths somehow.

Wouldn't be suprised if this ended in a scouting/management role somehow

That's what most of us are thinking.

 

[bert]

may be the worst defensive player in the league

You cant say that about every senators player. It can only be one.

 

[Spargon]

Assuming this is the typical vet signing to meet pre-season minimum requirements. Nonetheless, great to see him still going at his age (even though hes younger than me).

 

[KrisLetAngry]

It's wild he scores 30 in his 3rd NHL year and never hits 20 again.

Was such an amazing defensive stud. Shame the scoring didn't keep up.

I remember when the Islanders signed Kulemin and Grabovski same year.

 

[BonMorrison]

It's wild he scores 30 in his 3rd NHL year and never hits 20 again.

Was such an amazing defensive stud. Shame the scoring didn't keep up.

I remember when the Islanders signed Kulemin and Grabovski same year.

I remember so much Kulemin discourse after that season. He was riding a ridiculous shooting percentage that season but he was never more than a 15 goal kinda guy that's good at defense. Still one of my favorite Leafs ever though.

It is insane looking back at the posts from after that season and so many people (me included) were having very serious discussions on whether or not he had more value than Phil Kessel because he was now also a 30 goal scorer and was big body boi who played better defense

 

[WATTAGE4451]

I know there's like zero percent chance he gets an NHL offer.

But if there's a type of player that can make themselves useful way after their prime, Kulemin is that type of player. Low maintenance, and has their game based on calm smarts. Skill and speed players can't make a comeback years after the fact. Their tools degrade. But Kulemin had a simple game and knew where to stand on the ice. If I had to put a 38 year old on my team that hasn't played for 6 years? Kulemin is the guy.

Hes played, just not in the nhl.

 

[KevinRedkey]

No one (including Ottawa) is going to be interested in anything outside his defensive game. If he still has that and his skating is still good enough to keep up with the game's speed - he may have a shot as a PK specialist. If his skating is what we tend to expect from 38yr olds, then he won't make the cut.

 

[joestevens29]

Odd a Russian coming back at his age

 

[BlackAdam]

The streets will never forget Kulemin Prime 2011

 

[NyQuil]

Decent running a PP, 3rd pairing at best otherwise. You would think that he would be better with a breakout pass considering how good he is on the O zone with the puck, but he just isn't wired to play in the D zone. I guess the hope would be that he learns to at least be mediocre defensively, in which case he could help a team needing PP help.

He's passive, and hesitant defensively. His smaller size doesn't help him win board battles, either. In the AHL he was feisty on occasion, and would drop the gloves, but he hasn't been able to bring that game with him into the NHL.

We replaced Brannstrom with Brannstrom.

 

[Kcoyote3]

Perhaps the least physically capable defenseman in the NHL last season

 

[Hobnobs]

He's basically a decent PP option on a basement dweller. Don't see the Sens signing him during or after camp.

 

[bobbythebrain]

may be the worst defensive player in the league

"Hold my beer"- Tony Deangelo