Isles Day-to-Day: Kulemin Ahead of Schedule

Nikolay Kulemin still has a ways to go before he can return to the New York Islanders lineup, but his recovery is progressing nicely, according to Head Coach Doug Weight.
Originally slated to miss six months after surgery for an upper-body injury in November, Weight said Kulemin appears to be ahead of schedule after taking the ice before morning skate.
"He seems like he's ahead," Weight said. "He's here every day and he's been on the ice now for close to a couple weeks working, he looks like he's shooting the puck pretty well. It would be nice if it were sooner than later for him."

Kulemin was on the ice before the team's morning skate and left just as the optional session began. Weight didn't offer a timetable on his injured winger, who's still likely to miss a lengthy amount of time.

"The guys get mad at me in there if you say they're ahead of schedule because then they have to be ahead of schedule," Weight said.
Kulemin sustained the injury in the Islanders 2-1 OT loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 7 and has been sidelined since. The Russian forward had three points (1G, 2A) in 13 games this season and was one of the Islanders most-used penalty killing forwards, averaging 2:26 per game on the PK this season.
"He's not a guy that on the outside people think a lot about, but he's a glue guy," Weight said. "He's there, he's got good feet, he's uber smart, plays the game the right way and we've missed him. He looks like he's doing real well."