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Nikolai Kulemin | Winger

Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Age / DOB:  (26) / 7/14/1986
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 225
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Nikolai Kulemin has rediscovered some of his scoring touch of late.
He had two goals in his first 28 contests, but he has scored in three of his past six outings. "The difference has been his skating and his awareness away from the puck and the recognition that when his center or lineman has the puck that he moves to a hole or moves off the puck. He's doing that more effectively," coach Randy Carlyle said. "He's a big, strong guy who can skate ... He's got a quick wrist shot ... It's nice to see it's part of his ammunition." It also doesn't hurt that he's been riding shotgun with productive center Nazem Kadri, which has helped him snap out of his funk. Mar 27 - 12:35 PM
Source: Toronto Sun

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The Toronto Maple Leafs would like to see Nikolai Kulemin shoot the puck more.

"From my memory before I got here, Kulemin had a big-time shot and I don’t see him shooting the puck as often," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. "He used to step over the blue line and his wrist shot had the ability to beat the goalie from the top of the circle . . . I don’t see that happening anymore. We’d like to see him cycle the puck more and get the puck to the net more." Kulemin scored what was just his third goal of the season on Saturday. He had 30 goals in 2010-11, but has found the back of the net just 10 times in the 99 contests since his breakout season. He is shooting the puck less, but that's not the full issue. He had a 17.3 shooting percentage in 2010-11 and just a 6.1% success rate in 2013. Rumors have surfaced that the Penguins and Oilers might be interested in Kulemin's services and perhaps a change of scenery would boost his production.
Mar 18 - 11:06 AM

Nikolai Kulemin has one assist in his last eight games.

He was separated from long-time linemate Mikhail Grabovski in Thursday's defeat against Pittsburgh. Grabovski played between Leo Komarov and Matt Frattin, while Kulemin skated with Nazem Kadri and Clarke MacArthur. "I thought it had a positive effect," coach Randy Carlyle said of the changes. "We were more balanced and we did create more offence. It wasn't the type of up-and-down game you'd expect from Pittsburgh, it was more a checking type of game and we did our fair share."
Source: Toronto Sun
Mar 15 - 9:38 AM

Nikolai Kulemin potted a goal and added an assist in Toronto's 4-2 win over Philadelphia Monday.

The marker was just his second of the season and it represented his 70th as a Leaf. Kulemin scored 30 goals in 2010-11, but the last two seasons have been a struggle for him to find the back of the net. He has collected 10 assists and 38 hits in 20 games this campaign though.
Source: Toronto Sun
Feb 26 - 10:30 AM

Nikolai Kulemin is off to a great start this season.

Kulemin has a goal and six points in seven games. He probably won't maintain that pace, but he should do far better than his 28-point 2011-12 campaign would lead you to believe.
Feb 2 - 5:49 PM

Nikolai Kulemin amassed two goals and three assists in Metallurg Magnitogorsk's 7-2 rout over Dinamo Riga.

The offensive outburst gives Kulemin 11 goals and 23 points in 27 KHL games. Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin enjoyed a great showing as well with one goal and three helpers, while Ottawa rearguard Sergei Gonchar recorded one goal and two assists.
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 01:16:00 PM

Nikolai Kulemin tallied his ninth goal of the KHL season in Metallurg Magnitogorsk's 4-3 overtime loss to Vityaz.

He has racked up 17 points in 24 games with his lockout team. Kulemin endured an abysmal 2011-12 campaign in Toronto with just seven goals and 28 points in 70 contests, but his confidence appears to be returning in Russia.
Wed, Nov 28, 2012 01:49:00 PM

Nikolai Kulemin scored Magnitogorsk's only regulation goal in a 2-1 shootout loss to CSKA Moscow on Monday.

The Toronto winger has two goals and one assist in five games in the KHL. Kulemin had a horrible 2011-12 season with the Leafs, posting seven goals and 28 points in 70 games, following his career showing of 30 goals and 57 points the previous year. When the lockout is over, he should get back on track with 20-plus goals and 40-45 points.
Mon, Oct 1, 2012 12:44:00 PM

Nikolai Kulemin will reportedly play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL during the NHL lockout.

He will join Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin and Ottawa's Sergei Gonchar on the roster. The 26-year-old forward played three seasons with Magnitogorsk prior to beginning his NHL career in 2008-09 with Toronto. Kulemin signed a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs this past summer.
Mon, Sep 17, 2012 01:44:00 PM

Nikolai Kulemin has signed a two-year/$5.6 million contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kulemin had an arbitration hearing scheduled for July 26. This will be a "show me" contract for Kulemin. He had 30 goals and 57 points in 82 games in 2010-11, but just 28 points last season. He needs to prove over the next two seasons that he's capable of consistently serving as a top-six forward.
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 10:59:00 AM

Nikolai Kulemin's arbitration hearing is scheduled for July 26.

Kulemin had just seven goals and 28 points in 70 games last season. That's a far cry from his 2010-11 high of 57 points. He's coming off of a two-year/$4,700,000 deal and it'd be surprising if he got a raise.
Source: NHL.com
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 01:26:00 PM

Nikolai Kulemin is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Kulemin is expected to re-sign with Toronto, but the negotiations might be tough. Kulemin is coming off a disappointing 28-point campaign, but he did reach the 50-point mark in 2011-12. It wouldn't be surprising if he ended up with a one-year "show me" contract.
Source: Toronto Sun
Mon, Jun 25, 2012 01:18:00 PM

Don't expect Nikolai Kulemin (finger) to return before the end of the 2011-12 campaign.

That speaks more to the fact that there's only about three weeks left in the regular season than it does the severity of Kulemin's injury. After scoring 30 goals in 82 games in 2010-11, Kulemin couldn't even reach the 30-point mark this season. Next season, he'll have to prove that his 2010-11 breakout campaign wasn't a fluke. It's worth noting that he's scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer.
Source: Toronto Sun
Fri, Mar 16, 2012 11:38:00 AM

The Maple Leafs announced that forward Nikolai Kulemin will miss three weeks due to a broken finger.

Kulemin was injured in Tuesday’s game at Florida and it likely means that his season is over. The Leafs have 12 games remaining. Kulemin is 7-21-28 in 70 matches.
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 01:24:00 PM

If you're wondering why Nikolai Kulemin missed Friday's practice, it's because he was with his wife for the birth of their second child.

We'd like to extend our congratulations to Kulemin and his growing family. No word yet on if he'll play in Saturday's home game, but for now we'll list him as available.
Fri, Feb 10, 2012 01:39:00 PM

Depth Charts

All Positions
PosRoleName
C1Tyler Bozak
2Nazem Kadri
3Mikhail Grabovski
4Jay McClement
LW1Joffrey Lupul
2James van Riemsdyk
3Clarke MacArthur
4Frazer McLaren
5Ryan Hamilton
RW1Phil Kessel
2Nikolai Kulemin
3Matt Frattin
4Leo Komarov
5Colton Orr
D1Dion Phaneuf
2John-Michael Liles
3Jake Gardiner
4Cody Franson
5Carl Gunnarsson
6Ryan O'Byrne
7Mark Fraser
G1James Reimer
2Ben Scrivens