Nikolai Kulemin also avoids arbitration by signing a two-year deal with Toronto Maple Leafs
Russian professional hockey player, Nikolai Kulemin signed a deal with Toronto Maple Leafs for the third time, getting an increment of nearly $1 million as he signed a two-year deal for $5.6 million, with a annual cap hit of $2.8 million for one year; the
previous one was $4.7 million for two years and of $2.35 million per year.
Nikolai Kulemin became the ninth of 16 National Hockey League (NHL) players to avoid an arbitration hearing and solve the issue outside the hockey court. He had an arbitration hearing scheduled for next week but signed the deal just like eight other players
before him, who had decided to go to arbitration hearing with him on 4th of the July but signed the deals before the hearing.
Two of those eight players, whom Kulemin followed and signed the deal just before him, include T.J. Oshie and Sam Gagner, who signed their deals right on the verge of their hearings.
Now the next turn is of Kris Versteeg from Florida Panthers and after him would be Kaspars Daugavins of Ottawa Senators who have arbitration hearing on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
The Russian, born in Magnitogorsk (then part of Soviet Union), started his career with his hometown team Metallurg Magnitogorsk of Russian Super League (RSL) in 2005 and played there for three seasons, before he was selected 44th overall in the
second round of 2006 NHL draft. But he was not offered a contract until 2007 when he signed an entry-level contract in 2007. Kulemin made in NHL debut in 2008 with Toronto Maple Leafs and since, has made 303 appearances, scoring 68 goals, 84 assists and 152
total points.
Last year the Russian native, who just turned 26 last week, did not have a very good season but Assistant General Manager of Toronto Maple Leafs, Claude Loiselle is hopeful that he will do better this time as he said,
“What happened last year ... who knows? Both he and (regular centre) Mikhail Grabovski were going into contract years. Sometimes that works and sometimes the pressure gets to you. His production was down, but if you remember, he, Mikhail and Clarke MacArthur
were one of the best second lines in the league the year before. He hits hard, he’s a soldier, but it didn’t help that Clarke was suspended to start the year and they just never got it going.”
Tags: