John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY

Former Maple Leaf Nikolay Kulemin to try out for Senators

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Jon Steitzer | Last updated Sep 5, 2024 3:04 PM ET

Yes, Nikolay Kulemin is still playing professional hockey.

At the age of 38, the former Toronto Maple Leafs winger has spent the past six seasons in the KHL and is now ready to attempt one last kick at the can in North America with a try out for the Ottawa Senators this September.

Roster update: The #Sens have signed defenseman Calen Addison and forward Nikolay Kulemin to professional tryout agreements.

Les #Sens ont accordé des contrats d’essai au défenseur Calen Addison ainsi qu’à l’attaquant Nikolay Kulemin. pic.twitter.com/z5ZmLopU4u

— Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) September 5, 2024

The news certainly seems a bit out of the blue, but given the Senators’ perceived need for depth on the left wing it allows them to give an opportunity to the one time reliable two-way winger.

Season	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
2005-06	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	31	5	8	13
2006-07	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	54	27	12	39
2007-08	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	57	21	12	33
2008-09	Toronto Maple Leafs	73	15	16	31
2008-09	Toronto Marlies	5	0	0	0
2009-10	Toronto Maple Leafs	78	16	20	36
2010-11	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	30	27	57
2011-12	Toronto Maple Leafs	70	7	21	28
2012-13	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	36	14	24	38
2012-13	Toronto Maple Leafs	48	7	16	23
2013-14	Toronto Maple Leafs	70	9	11	20
2014-15	New York Islanders	82	15	16	31
2015-16	New York Islanders	81	9	13	22
2016-17	New York Islanders	72	12	11	23
2017-18	New York Islanders	13	1	2	3
2018-19	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	52	16	19	35
2019-20	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	57	12	8	20
2020-21	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	22	6	1	7
2021-22	Ufa Salavat Yulayev	45	14	13	27
2022-23	Ufa Salavat Yulayev	68	13	15	28
2023-24	Ufa Salavat Yulayev	46	13	12	25
	NHL Totals	669	121	153	274

Outside of the Mac n’ the USSR glory year of 2010-11, Kulemin’s offensive production hasn’t been great, but his outputs have been consistent with what you’d look for in a third line option. Couple that with his physical play and his reliability at as a penalty killer, Kulemin was a very useful player for the Maple Leafs a decade ago. There was already a decline in his tough final year in Toronto and aside from his decent initial season with the Islanders, he struggled in New York leading to his return to Russia.

Kulemin’s performance in the KHL has been consistent and with limited options still left in free agency and the Senators having a fairly young roster, giving a pro try out to a veteran seems to make sense, but will probably leave a lot of Leafs fans disappointed to see Toronto facing off against a Burke era favourite even if it is only for the preseason.

Putting aside the emotions that go with the Battle of Ontario, Kulemin getting another shot at the NHL at 38 is a nice story. If things go well he could be an interesting waivers target for the Maple Leafs or a potential trade deadline depth target once the reality of the Senators season kicks in.

Additionally, the Senators are bringing in Calen Addison, a younger right shot defenceman with some promise. The Leafs will play the Senators twice in the preseason on September 22nd and September 24th.

Data from HockeyDB.com

This article first appeared on TheLeafsnation and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: