A goal, an assist and a plus-2 rating in exactly seventeen minutes of ice-time, Kulemin was his usual efficient self Monday night, a definite factor in the Leafs 5-4 victory over the Thrashers.

In this his third NHL season, the 24-year-old has evolved into arguably the Leafs most complete forward, a powerful combination of energy, enthusiasm and all-out effort. A consistent force on the forecheck (he stripped Dustin Byfuglien for his 19th goal on Monday), a load to knock off the puck and a contributor in all three zones—not to mention a recent evolution into one of the team’s better penalty killers—Kulemin is every bit the two-way force John Ferguson Jr. and his staff likely envisioned when they selected the Magnitogorsk, Russia native with the 44th overall pick in the 2006 Entry Draft.

Already with new career-highs in goals (19) and points (39), he’s combined with Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur to form the Leafs most effective unit this season. Always one of the final players off the ice after practice and a perfectionist when it comes to manicuring his sticks, Kulemin has earned every bit of success he’s achieved this season.

“He’s got to be one of [the] hardest working guys on our team,” said J.S. Giguere, who made 30 saves in the win over Atlanta. “He’s constantly at the rink trying to get better, watching video, staying over after practice, doing drills with the goalies, shooting pucks, doing drills with the assistant coaches.

“He’s really coming into his own right now and playing with lots of confidence on a line that’s been our driving force this year. It’s really good to see him play well. He deserves every bit of success he’s having right now.”

While his numbers continue to flourish offensively--he ranks second on the team in goals and third in points--it’s the big Russian dedication to two-way hockey that has teammates heaping praise, including a lofty comparison to one of the game’s top players.

“Brett Lebda always says he reminds him of [Pavel] Datsyuk in Detroit,” said Giguere. “Maybe not as much offensive skill as Datsyuk—he’s a pretty sick player—but as a package; strong and able to play defensively, offensively, able to shoot the puck like nobody else, making good defensive plays, good offensive plays, I think that’s a guy you can compare him to.”

Ranking the league’s toughest players to play against, Kris Versteeg picked only Sidney Crosby ahead of the Red Wings star. A three-time winner of the Selke and a two-time Stanley Cup champ, Datsyuk has earned the respect of his peers for his relentless efforts at both ends of the ice.

It’s a model that Kulemin has come to follow.

“That’s why it’s a good comparison,” agreed Giguere. “They’re both very strong, skating hard both ways of the ice, very contentious; they’re really paying attention to every aspect of the game. He pays the price defensively and then like [Ron Wilson] says 'after that he has fun offensively'.

“He’s a tank out there,” concluded Giguere. “He’s the full package as far as a hockey player is concerned.”

:rock::rock: