What makes him not soft? Don't bring up his hit on Kaleta either, or how he is so strong on the puck, because, well... he wasn't strong on the puck last year.
- Leafland

What makes him soft? Because he doesnt throw a hit? Because he isn't gritty like Dustin Brown is?

He isn't scared to go to the gritty area's of the ice or battle infront of the net.

He does his fair share of dirty work.

But him being struggling offensively all season seems to over shadow that to some people.

I already explained my definition of soft and playing with an edge. Kulemin's in the middle, that's all I'm saying. You had him at 2 on scale to 10, 10 being the "tough" end. I think he's closer to 5. That's all.
- gravyface

I have him at 3, and Bozak at 4. I find that a perfect place for the both of them. Like i said though, its opinion and i agree to disagree.

What makes him soft? Because he doesnt throw a hit? Because he isn't gritty like Dustin Brown is?

He isn't scared to go to the gritty area's of the ice or battle infront of the net.

He does his fair share of dirty work.

But him being struggling offensively all season seems to over shadow that to some people.
- jbold

He was scared to go to the gritty areas of the ice or to battle in front of the net.

He didn't do his fair share of dirty work.

Or he would have been rewarded with a better season. Hes been a different player since Gleason smacked him.

I dont think Kulemin or Grabo are soft.... again, Grabo played like the captain of the team last year.


Kessel is soft, but makes up for that with his dangerous, one shot scoring ability.

I dont think Kulemin or Grabo are soft.... again, Grabo played like the captain of the team last year.


Kessel is soft, but makes up for that with his dangerous, one shot scoring ability.
- robin_steele264

He was scared to go to the gritty areas of the ice or to battle in front of the net.

He didn't do his fair share of dirty work.

Or he would have been rewarded with a better season. Hes been a different player since Gleason smacked him.
- Leafland

I call BS. One of the only plus players on our team (and a team that finished -33) and he finishes a +2. And he does it with only 6 PIMs. That's our best defensive forward there; guess what? You don't succeed defensively as a forward without getting into dirty areas, without battling it out in front of the net. That line also faced the toughest competition all year as our shutdown line.

Kulemin had a bad offensive year, but the year before that, his shooting percentage was through the roof; that's not sustainable for him. If it was, he'd be putting up league elite numbers. Kulemin's a 15-20 goal guy, 35-45 points. Putting that into perspective and his offensive numbers aren't that bad.

He was scared to go to the gritty areas of the ice or to battle in front of the net.

He didn't do his fair share of dirty work.

Or he would have been rewarded with a better season. Hes been a different player since Gleason smacked him.
- Leafland

I wouldn't call Kulemin "soft" like Ponikarovsky or Stajan.

But last year was truly pathetic and embarrassing for him. I still give him the benefit of the doubt thinking about his 2010-11 year.

- peddy-93

Call it the way I see it... Kulemin is a keeper imo... unless you can upgrade nicely by moving him.

He's likely not a 30 goal man... but also not a 7 goal man or whatever he had this year.

Tough, 2 way 15-25 goal player... quite versatile.

Call it the way I see it... Kulemin is a keeper imo... unless you can upgrade nicely by moving him.

He's likely not a 30 goal man... but also not a 7 goal man or whatever he had this year.

2 way 15-20 goal player... quite versatile.
- robin_steele264

I wouldn't call Kulemin "soft" like Ponikarovsky or Stajan.

But last year was truly pathetic and embarrassing for him. I still give him the benefit of the doubt thinking about his 2010-11 year.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Speaking of Ponikarovsky, JVR is going to be a disappointment.

[quote=Leafland]


Not a fighter... but he's not a soft weak player.

I have no problem calling him tough.

I call BS. One of the only plus players on our team (and a team that finished -33) and he finishes a +2. And he does it with only 6 PIMs. That's our best defensive forward there; guess what? You don't succeed defensively as a forward without getting into dirty areas, without battling it out in front of the net. That line also faced the toughest competition all year as our shutdown line.

Kulemin had a bad offensive year, but the year before that, his shooting percentage was through the roof; that's not sustainable for him. If it was, he'd be putting up league elite numbers. Kulemin's a 15-20 goal guy, 35-45 points. Putting that into perspective and his offensive numbers aren't that bad.
- gravyface

Kulemin doesn't battle in front of the Leafs nets. Not his assignment.

Not a fighter... but he's not a soft weak player.

I have no problem calling him tough.
- robin_steele264

Hes neither, so why not just call him neither? Like i did?

Hes neither, so why not just call him neither? Like i did?
- Leafland

He's a big, strong player who can use his size to his advantage and play a gritty game.


I'll call him tough... truculent even.

one of the most 'truculent' players on the roster really.

He's a big, strong player who can use his size to his advantage and play a gritty game.


I'll call him tough... truculent even.

one of the most 'truculent' players on the roster really.
- robin_steele264

lol

lol
- Leafland

Agree.

Agree.
- robin_steele264

Ok, i take back calling him soft, but only in comparison with the rest of the Leafs.

I dont think Kulemin or Grabo are soft.... again, Grabo played like the captain of the team last year.


Kessel is soft, but makes up for that with his dangerous, one shot scoring ability.
- robin_steele264

Beats having to fire the damn thing 3-4 times before it gets through

He's a big, strong player who can use his size to his advantage and play a gritty game.


I'll call him tough... truculent even.

one of the most 'truculent' players on the roster really.
- robin_steele264

well when you look at our roster...

But ya me thinks he's a keeper, he over-acheived 2 years ago, under-achieved last year, what u said is fair, 15-25 goals two-way forward, he's our most defensively responsible player

I wouldn't call Kulemin "soft" like Ponikarovsky or Stajan.

But last year was truly pathetic and embarrassing for him. I still give him the benefit of the doubt thinking about his 2010-11 year.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Yeah considering how many posts the guy hit last year he could have easily cracked 20 goals.

It's worth giving him another go at it

So, this is off-topic, but I was thinking about a way that the NHL could address long-term contracts (namely, the ones that drop off considerably in the last few years).

Take Suter or Parise, for example. $98 mil over 13 years for a cap hit of $7.5 million.

Let's say they retire after year 10, as they might do having made 96% of their money.

Take the amount they made in the first 10 years, divide it by the money they made in the first 10 years (or even the TOTAL amount of the 13 year deal: 98) and use that as the cap hit retroactively for the past 10 years.

Go back and look at every year they played using their new cap hit. If they ever put a team over the cap, penalize that team by taking draft picks or reducing their cap hit by an equal amount for the next season.

You could even get really mean and say that the team that originally signed them to that deal gets penalized doubly (as opposed to other teams that may have acquired them via trade).

Any news coming out of twitter land?

I still have my money on Stats being brought in.

Kadri
Mac
4th

Book it

Beats having to fire the damn thing 3-4 times before it gets through
- AngryWhiteMale

Well yeah... not many players have legit one shot scoring ability, who can just beat a goalie one on one with a hard snipe... but Kessel is definitely one of them.

Any news coming out of twitter land?

I still have my money on Stats being brought in.

Kadri
Mac
4th

Book it
- AngryWhiteMale

I don't think Colorado needs 2 more wingers.

well when you look at our roster...

But ya me thinks he's a keeper, he over-acheived 2 years ago, under-achieved last year, what u said is fair, 15-25 goals two-way forward, he's our most defensively responsible player
- peddy-93

Yup... I didnt think he'd turn out to be much of anything when he broke into the league, but he's a good player for sure.