Can Kulemin be a 30+ scorer

KlattNazty · 03-20-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergei Berezin

He's a real wildcard in his offensive abilities if you ask me.

He could drop next season and become a consistent 15-20 goal two-way forward. But, he could continue to grow and maybe one day hit 40 in his prime (I know, I know, very difficult).

He's an interesting player.

I honestly think he could've already scored 30 this season if he didn't have this odd element of just whiffing on a good chance. He always seems to just get stoned on great chances. Maybe it's just me, but that's what I noticed for a good chunk of the season out of him.

I noticed it too, but give him credit in improving in this area, he slowly is burying more and more and thats the mark of a good player.

achtungbaby · 03-20-2011, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuck

His shooting % the last 2 years was around 11% and this year is over 16%. After almost 400 pro games it is more likely this season was a fluke, than that he suddenly became a way more accurate shooter (see J Staal in Pittsburgh).

If you look at Grabo, his shots taken increased, rather than the scoring %. It shows a change in his style of play so the results will tend to be more easily repeatable.

An 11% shooting average is actually pretty decent but he will have to start shooting a lot more often to be hitting 30 goals on a regular basis. Guys like Iggy and E Staal take over 250 shots a years to produce their goals at 11%. I am not sure Kulemin can evolve into a player that shoots that often although I can't find his SOG from the big years in Magnitogorsk (maybe that was his game over there).

He looks like more of a 20-25 goal guy.

Thank you for this. It's nice to see some stats back up a thought around here. We usually sound like the OJ jury around these parts. "I think he was guilty, but I just didn't believe all that DNA crap!"

smoke meat pete* · 03-20-2011, 10:38 PM

I wonder how much his shooting % has been affected by increased PP time. He's having more time and space in the scoring areas while on PP which he didn't get much of early last year and he's got 4 goals this year compared to 0 last year.