Brian Burke isn’t kidding when he says there is no progress in a new contract for restricted free agent winger Nikolai Kulemin. Talks are at a standstill.
“What he is asking for is not what we are prepared to pay,” the Leafs general manager said Thursday, when asked why he and Kulemin’s agent, Gary Greenstin, keep giving identical terse quotes on the subject. “I think his agent is a good guy. But we will grind on and see what happens.”
There are rumours Kulemin is seeking $3 million US or higher after 36 points in 78 games, though the 23-year-old was one of the team’s most improved players.
Unrestricted free agent centres Rickard Wallin and Wayne Primeau will likely have to wait until late in the summer to see if the Leafs make other roster moves before getting any firm offers here.
