Cheechoo wasn't quite as quick of a drop off but was still quite dramatic.
This off season will be a very emotional time for Kulemin as I am sure he will be going back home and seeing alot of the families of the friends he has lost. Hopefully this gives him the change to grieve properly so he can get back to doing what he loves.
Personal problems or not, his dramatic drop off is one of the major reasons why the Leafs stumbled this season. He was well on his way to playing himself into the core of this team last year, but his place is due for a major re-assessment, fairly or not.
Saw something about this earlier, but has there ever been an NHLer who had such a huge drop-off?
Kulemin was the Leafs best all around player last season, and among it's most consistent.
This season he knows how to hit a post or crossbar. But that's a significant drop-off in production.
Whatever his issue is/are I hope they get sorted out next season, we really need Kulemin to be the player he was last season.
Huge drop offs happen decently regularly, remember Jason Blake going from 40 goals in 06/07 with the Isles to 15 goals in 07/08 with the Leafs? I think Kulemin was overperforming and getting lucky with his 30 goal season, but even still he should be a regular 15-20 goal guy. We can come up with all sorts of reasons why, but simply put, he's having a bad year. I expect him to bounce back next year with around 15-20 goals.
Sad totals this year, but I firmly believe he'll bounce back next year and score at least 20. He's a great third liner at the very least, and now Burke can sign him for cheap.
Shame about the season but a great scenario we're in. Re-sign him for cheap, long term.
At the worst, we have one of the better third line hockey players in the NHL.
At the best, we have a fantastic second-liner that can put 25 goals a year.
Take your pick, either of those benefits the team.
He (and his line) have been playing very strongly of late. He's just been snake-bitten all year. As long as he keeps working like he is, it'll turn around for him.
Kulemin was struggling partly because of the loss of his friend, and the fact that Grabovski and Macarthur were also struggling. They didn't pick up their game until about December 2011. I think he'll bounce back next season, if he doesn't put him on the third line because he would also make a great checker and physical winger.
You should probably stop now. First off, how much he makes is irrelevant. Losing loved ones isn't easier if you have money.
Second, as far as I know, a few of those ACQUAINTANCES were a whole hell of a lot closer to him than just that. If you've ever lost a loved one (family or not) and aren't a total psychopath, then you would feel it. And grieving has no time limit. Some people can move on after a few months, others are affected the rest of their lives.
Who knows with Kulemin? If he doesn't deal with it properly, it could very well ruin his career.
As someone who lost his father 20 (I was in my 20's) years ago, I can speak with complete honesty that it takes more than just a few months to "get over it". I took 6 months off work (medical related for stress/grieving). I came back and was not 100% for a long time. The difference? I don't have thousands of people watching me do my job, posting about it on forums or questioning my inability to deal with it. My boss (and I imagine kulemin's as well) knew it takes time.
Maybe some posters around here should have a lot more empathy for the people behind the jersey's, instead of just seeing the money they make.
If Kulemin is going to essentially take an entire year off of his multi million dollar job every time he gets "sad", then he's a flat out liability.
"Sad" things happen in life. People get divorced. Break up. There's illnesses. Deaths. No matter how you slice it, these things are a part of life. If Kulemin can`t perform his job for an entire year every time he gets `sad``, then good riddance.
Sure, everything I said here would get me booed off the stage on "Oprah", but I think that`s a good thing.
I think harsh honesty is MUCH more important than lying for the sake of sparing feelings.
I think he should walk away from the team and go home.
__________________
Woodlief
using his big frame to create space and his skating ability to find open lanes to drive the net. He stands 6-3 and is a natural goal scorer with plenty of confidence.
He's a scout's dream in the way he prepares himself and plays an unselfish game, making smart decisions with the puck. With his bloodlines, he certainly understands what it will take to make it at the next level.
If Kulemin is going to essentially take an entire year off of his multi million dollar job every time he gets "sad", then he's a flat out liability.
"Sad" things happen in life. People get divorced. Break up. There's illnesses. Deaths. No matter how you slice it, these things are a part of life. If Kulemin can`t perform his job for an entire year every time he gets `sad``, then good riddance.
Sure, everything I said here would get me booed off the stage on "Oprah", but I think that`s a good thing.
I think harsh honesty is MUCH more important than lying for the sake of sparing feelings.
People grieve differently. Get your head out of your ass.
If Kulemin is going to essentially take an entire year off of his multi million dollar job every time he gets "sad", then he's a flat out liability.
"Sad" things happen in life. People get divorced. Break up. There's illnesses. Deaths. No matter how you slice it, these things are a part of life. If Kulemin can`t perform his job for an entire year every time he gets `sad``, then good riddance.
Sure, everything I said here would get me booed off the stage on "Oprah", but I think that`s a good thing.
I think harsh honesty is MUCH more important than lying for the sake of sparing feelings.
Agreed completely, and I don't usually agree with you.
If he struggles for a month because of grief, that's fine. But an entire year? Anyone who fails to do their job properly for a year because of grief needs to take a leave of absence from their job, not keep working and doing substandard work.
People grieve differently. Get your head out of your ass.
I agree. People grieve differently.
And weak people who grieve by essentially taking an entire year off of their job (all while still cashing their paychecks) are liabilities. If acquaintances dying is an season off, then what's going to happen if a family member dies or gets sick?
These things happen. People get sick and die. Accidents happen. Welcome to earth.
Weak people that can't tough it out don't deserve mulit million dollar contracts for a job where a contract expects a certain level of performance.
And weak people who grieve by essentially taking an entire year off of their job (all while still cashing their paychecks) are liabilities. If acquaintances dying is an season off, then what's going to happen if a family member dies or gets sick?
These things happen. People get sick and die. Accidents happen. Welcome to earth.
Weak people that can't tough it out don't deserve mulit million dollar contracts for a job where a contract expects a certain level of performance.
You're just assuming that this is his problem. His confidence isn't there. He hasn't gotten a good bounce all season. Last season he had a ton, the whole 2nd line did. Stop assuming that this year he's not putting pucks in the net because of an incident. He just hasn't gotten the bounces and his confidence is gone. He'll be back next year.
Agreed completely, and I don't usually agree with you.
If he struggles for a month because of grief, that's fine. But an entire year? Anyone who fails to do their job properly for a year because of grief needs to take a leave of absence from their job, not keep working and doing substandard work.
The truth is that I don't really believe for a second that that plane crash has ANYTHING to do with Kulemin's performance thus far this season. I only made that post in response to someone saying the plane crash was the root of his problems this season. The amount of excuses leafs fans will make for players, GM's, coaches, etc. is getting way out of hand.
Personally, I'd prefer that Kulemin is just having an off year than for him to be so mentally weak that that plane crash ruined his entire season.
I think he's followed a career high year (32 goals) with a career low year (less than 10). Just unfortunate timing. He'll probably be a 20-40 guy, all while being a very competent two way player. An important role, and he'll probably have a long nhl career.
The truth is that I don't really believe for a second that that plane crash has ANYTHING to do with Kulemin's performance thus far this season. I only made that post in response to someone saying the plane crash was the root of his problems this season. The amount of excuses leafs fans will make for players, GM's, coaches, etc. is getting way out of hand.
Personally, I'd prefer that Kulemin is just having an off year than for him to be so mentally weak that that plane crash ruined his entire season.
I think he's followed a career high year (32 goals) with a career low year (less than 10). Just unfortunate timing. He'll probably be a 20-40 guy, all while being a very competent two way player. An important role, and he'll probably have a long nhl career.
Agreed completely, and I don't usually agree with you.
If he struggles for a month because of grief, that's fine. But an entire year? Anyone who fails to do their job properly for a year because of grief needs to take a leave of absence from their job, not keep working and doing substandard work.
Because a month of grief is long enough for everyone to snap out of it on the entire planet. Also forget the fact that he's also under pressure in a huge hockey market. He's not just going to take a leave of absence, because when he did get back from it there wouldn't be a job for him. He's had a bad point total this year, no question, but family means a lot to people who move from their hometown to somewhere where they speak a different language, and losing a mentor like he has really did something to him. Nobody can really know what's going on with him, but whatever it is I think he's going to to some heavy reflecting this summer and I think we'll see a major bounce back from him.
