Confirmed with Link: Kulak is back (4 years, $2.75M AAV)

[KarmaPolice]

I like it. Holland is doing a good job thus far (knock on wood).

 

[nabob]

Everyone mad at Holland and complaining that they wanted him signed at 2.25 is either new to sports or willfully ignorant of how the market is set for free agents. Look at what some other guys are getting and you’ll see this is a great deal.

 

[Heavy Dee]

Look at that Cernak deal and tell me Kulak isn't a bargain!

 

[TheNumber4]

Home town hero! Home town legend in the making.

Thanks for doing the right thing Kulak. Fair contract for both sides.

 

[TheNumber4]

not with fans like you supporting them

Like

 

[MuzzaFuzza]

Good to have him back. I liked the player, maybe a bit too much for him but it’s the price you pay I guess.

Still would like a Provorov/Sanheim/Chychurun for the 2nd pairing.

I don’t remember, can Kulak play his offside at all?

 

[dssource]

Very nice. Kulak sees this team is going places and wants his piece of that pie.

Still need another dman though to lessen Nurse's minutes.

 

[MoontoScott]

Honestly I think it's going to be Barrie for Brown and Foegle for something. Should free up room for Pulji and Yams.

A good idea because again, with arbitration rights its a riskier situation.

 

[Spawn]

Kulak was our best D against Colorado, can skate really well, he's 28, local guy, and he's an exceptional zone entry denier. Analytics love him, and so do all of us who watched him post TDL.

He was playing 16 minutes a night against Colorado.

I agree Kulak is a great bottom pairing dman. But your second pair guy needs to be at 20 minutes. Not 16.

 

[The Head Crusher]

Awesome deal for good price!

 

[MoontoScott]

Kulak was our best D against Colorado, can skate really well, he's 28, local guy, and he's an exceptional zone entry denier. Analytics love him, and so do all of us who watched him post TDL.

I'm puzzled by why Montreal would have traded him for Lagesson? I guess a 2nd rounder was also part of the deal.

 

[Oilers]

tad higher than I hoped, but we're splitting hairs for 2.75MM and 2.25MM
Welcome back Brett!

Holland off to a great start. Still hoping for a 2nd pairing LD, but the team looks better today.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

I’m watching a player who is a great bottom pairing guy who has always been a bottom pairing guy who all of a sudden is going to need to play as a top 4 guy.

2.75 Million is not Top 4 money.

 

[Oilhawks]

Hahahaha are you ever happy? Kulak was solid for us. I have no idea what player you are watching.

Had to log in to check, but not shocked by the source

 

[Spawn]

It's a bit weird to me that you want to keep Barrie but not Kulak.

I'd rather just find a taker for Barrie which gives us the cap space to acquire a better defender and run:

Nurse - Ceci
X - Bouchard
Kulak - Broberg

I want to keep Barrie because he’s one of the leagues premier offensive dmen, is a year removed from leading the league in points for a dman and has proven he can be a good top 4 dman.

But hey, if Holland moves out Barrie and is able to acquire someone better for the left side… fine. I’m happy with Kulak as a bottom pairing dman. I’m not happy with him as an anchor in the top 4.

 

[AddyTheWrath]

I want to keep Barrie because he’s one of the leagues premier offensive dmen, is a year removed from leading the league in points for a dman and has proven he can be a good top 4 dman.

But hey, if Holland moves out Barrie and is able to acquire someone better for the left side… fine. I’m happy with Kulak as a bottom pairing dman. I’m not happy with him as an anchor in the top 4.

But he doesn't play in the top 4..

If $2.75M is too much for a bottom pairing defenseman in Kulak, then $4.5M is definitely too much for a bottom paring defenseman in Barrie.

I agree that I don't want our second pairing to be Kulak - Bouchard, but it might be serviceable until the deadline.

 

[Oilers]

But he doesn't play in the top 4..

If $2.75M is too much for a bottom pairing defenseman in Kulak, then $4.5M is definitely too much for a bottom paring defenseman in Barrie.

I agree that I don't want our second pairing to be Kulak - Bouchard, but it might be serviceable until the deadline.

Agree with this. Kulak likely to play bottom pairing minutes, but serviceable to fill in 2nd pairing if theres an injury.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

But he doesn't play in the top 4..

If $2.75M is too much for a bottom pairing defenseman in Kulak, then $4.5M is definitely too much for a bottom paring defenseman in Barrie.

I agree that I don't want our second pairing to be Kulak - Bouchard, but it might be serviceable until the deadline.

He's actually fine at that total if you're bringing in kids along the way.

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

Look at that Cernak deal and tell me Kulak isn't a bargain!

Cernak is a much much much better player than Kulak lmfao. One guy is one of the highest leverage defenders in the league who plays vs elites the other plays mostly vs bottom 6 forwards/bottom pairing dmen.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

that Kulak deal is a tasty bit of business. He'll outplay the shit out of it.

 

[mcdingdong]

I want to keep Barrie because he’s one of the leagues premier offensive dmen, is a year removed from leading the league in points for a dman and has proven he can be a good top 4 dman.

But hey, if Holland moves out Barrie and is able to acquire someone better for the left side… fine. I’m happy with Kulak as a bottom pairing dman. I’m not happy with him as an anchor in the top 4.

If you look around the league at dmen who average 19-20 mins you will see they are generally in the 3-6M cap hit range. Like I said, the cap hit is totally fine for a #4-5 dman AND is actually low enough that it isn't bad as the anchor to a 3rd pairing when he is passed by on the depth chart. I just think you don't have a handle on what dmen in his age range and usage actually garner on the open market tbh.

 

[alanschu]

I'm puzzled by why Montreal would have traded him for Lagesson? I guess a 2nd rounder was also part of the deal.

I suspect pending UFA played a role in the trade?

 

[The Nuge]

Awesome news. I’m glad to admit I was wrong about him. He’s really grown in the last couple years. He’s only really a #5, but he’s shown he can play top 4 when needed

 

[McShogun99]

I think we need to move Barrie now and get a solid defensive D to partner with Broberg on the third pairing.

 

[Gordy Elbows]

I could literally kiss Holland.

That would start a Twitter flurry in a hurry!