Former Maple Leafs Forward Returns to NHL 7 Years After Leaving America

Former Toronto Maple Leafs 2nd-round pick Nikolai Kulemin is making a return to the NHL after spending the past six years in Russia following a four-year tenure with the New York Islanders.

The 38-year-old, a former No. 44 draft pick in 2006, has signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Ottawa Senators , aiming to reignite his NHL career, the franchise announced on September 5.

This type of contract, however, doesn't guarantee Kulemin a place on the Senators' regular-season roster, which he will need to earn through training camp and by signing a standard contract before the start of the season.

Kulemin's last appearance in the NHL was in November 2017 with the Islanders. His season was cut short by an upper-body injury that required surgery, leading him to return to Russia once his contract expired and limiting him to just 17 games played that year with New York.

Kulemin has spent the last six seasons playing in the KHL, first with Metallurg Magnitogorsk and then with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

During his initial NHL stint, Kulemin was a two-way forward and a strong penalty killer. Over 669 games with the Leafs and the Isles, he scored 121 goals and 274 points, with a career-high 30 goals coming in the 2010–11 season with Toronto, nearly 15 years ago.

Kulemin’s return to the NHL comes with some familiar faces in Ottawa's front office, which could have made this comeback possible and easier for all parties involved.

Senators president and general manager Steve Staios and senior vice president Dave Poulin were both involved with the Maple Leafs during Kulemin’s time in Toronto.

Although only 10 skaters aged 38 or older played in the NHL last season, Kulemin has remained active in Russia , considered to have one of the strongest leagues outside of the United States, which bodes well for his chances at landing on Ottawa's roster for the upcoming season.

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