For the last six seasons, former New York Islanders forward Nikolay Kulemin has been in the KHL.
However, the 38-year-old could be back in the NHL in 2024-25, as the Ottawa Senators announced Thursday that they had signed him to a professional tryout (PTO).
They’ve also signed defenseman Calen Addison to a PTO, someone the Islanders could have brought in to bolster their depth on the right side of their blue line:
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
Acquired by the Islanders as a free agent on July 2, 2014, after a six-year stint with Toronto, the Russian native spent four seasons on Long Island (2014-2018), scoring 37 goals with 42 assists for 79 points in 248 games.
In his final season on Long Island, Kulemin scored just one goal with two assists in 13 games.
Last season in the KHL, his third season with Ufa Salavat Yulayev, Kulemin potted 13 goals with 12 assists for 25 points in 46 games before going pointless in seven postseason contests.
This is the second straight season that Ottawa has signed a former Islander to a PTO, as Josh Bailey signed one ahead of the 2023-24 season but did not make the team.
In 669 career NHL games, Kulemin has 121 goals with 153 assists for 274 points. If he makes the Senators’ team, this will be his 11th NHL season.
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