Confirmed with Link: Sami Vatanen signs with Devils 1yr 2m

[Blackjack]

Kulikov has to rate ahead of Butcher on a depth chart. Methinks anyway.

My depth chart (ignoring L/R):

Murray
Severson
Subban
Smith
Butcher
Vatanen
Kulikov
Carrick

Walsh, Bahl or Okhotiuk could potentially pass everyone up to Smith this year.

 

[Bleedred]

Kulikov has to rate ahead of Butcher on a depth chart. Methinks anyway.

I don’t think he was.

I think this is yet another symptom of this board underrating Butcher. Kulikov is next to nothing.

 

[NJDevs26]

Kulikov has to rate ahead of Butcher on a depth chart. Methinks anyway.

You don't healthy scratch defensemen making $3.5 million a year unless you have no doubt better options.

I don’t think he was.

I think this is yet another symptom of this board underrating Butcher. Kulikov is next to nothing.

Kulikov-Carrick is a nice fourth pairing assuming everyone else stays and Ty Smith makes the team. They'll probably rotate guys in and out with the schedule anyway, especially if we fall out of it early again.

 

[My3Sons]

I don’t think he was.

I think this is yet another symptom of this board underrating Butcher. Kulikov is next to nothing.

Kulikov may be terrible, but having watched Butcher in person I'd suggest that he's not underrated. He is just not suited to playing defense in any sort of space and is too small and lacks reach to make up for it. That's my eyeball test. NJ needs Butcher on a second pair and unless he's improved somehow I don't think he's quite good enough. At this point, on a third pair, he's just Lovejoy taking protected minutes from younger players on a developing team that need them to learn the NHL game.

 

[Bleedred]

Kulikov may be terrible, but having watched Butcher in person I'd suggest that he's not underrated. He is just not suited to playing defense in any sort of space and is too small and lacks reach to make up for it. That's my eyeball test. NJ needs Butcher on a second pair and unless he's improved somehow I don't think he's quite good enough. At this point, on a third pair, he's just Lovejoy taking protected minutes from younger players on a developing team that need them to learn the NHL game.

I don’t think he’s underrated. I just don’t think he’s bad, like many of this board does. That’s why I feel he’s underrated.

A lot of people here would have you believing he’s no better than Connor Carrick.

 

[Goptor]

I think Kulikov will be playing simply because he's capable of playing the PK. Give him limited 5on5 time as a 3rd pair and throw in a big chunk of time on the PK.

 

[glenwo2]

hmm good news? what's the catch?

He's really Mike Mottau in disguise.

 

[glenwo2]

Canes gave up Kuokkanen and a 3rd for 7 games of Vatanen.

This is absolutely amazing to think about.

Hope Sami plays very well so we can get another talented young prospect for him at the deadline again.

 

[Comparison Ford]

Kulikov is 100 percent higher on depth chart than Butcher right now.

this is how I see it

Murray - Severson
Kulikov - Subban
Smith/Butcher - Vatanen
Butcher/Smith

 

[Billdo]

Murray-Subban
Butcher-Severson
Smith-Vatman

this is what I feel like we're rolling with the majority of the time everyone is healthy. I do have to say I like Carrick more than most and would prefer him over Kulikov when the injuries being to surface.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Kulikov stinks and should not be ahead of Butcher on the depth chart. There will be some games he should be rotated in if we need PK help or Smith needs a breather, but he will not get better results than Butcher.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

If Butcher isn’t in the starting lineup they should just trade him now for whatever they can get, his value will only go down and that extra year becomes an albatross.

 

[Blackjack]

If Butcher isn’t in the starting lineup they should just trade him now for whatever they can get, his value will only go down and that extra year becomes an albatross.

Not sure what you think Butcher is worth at $3.7 million, but for reference Nate Schmidt at $6 million returned a 3rd round pick.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Not sure what you think Butcher is worth at $3.7 million, but for reference Nate Schmidt at $6 million returned a 3rd round pick.

I think 2/3 of teams won’t consider any trade unless the devils take salary back, 2/3 or the remaining 3rd probably have zero interest. Then of the remaining 3 teams take what you can get that is either a one year deal or a pick.

 

[Patrik26]

Not sure what you think Butcher is worth at $3.7 million, but for reference Nate Schmidt at $6 million returned a 3rd round pick.

Kinkaid-like return then?

 

[Blackjack]

I think 2/3 of teams won’t consider any trade unless the devils take salary back, 2/3 or the remaining 3rd probably have zero interest. Then of the remaining 3 teams take what you can get that is either a one year deal or a pick.

Yeah, Devils would probably have to retain the max, about $1.9 million. Even then they get peanuts. I'd prefer to just hang onto him and hope that he can find what he had in his rookie year, when he was one of the better defensemen in the league.

 

[Nubmer6]

I think this is yet another symptom of this board underrating Butcher. Kulikov is next to nothing.

I think your statement is a symptom of YOU underrating defensemen who can actually defend

 

[The 29th Pick]

So a UFA chose NJ without NJ having to overpay? The main board must be imploding.

ssssshhh, I guess he didn't hear about the taxes !!!!

 

[Bcap88]

Another trade asset at deadline

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Smith not going to make the team now because of this signing? I asked in the trade rumors area too thought Id ask the fans

 

[Desert Devil]

The only reason Smith would not make the team is if his play somehow goes downhill all of the sudden. This signing doesn't have any effect on him making the team or not.

I also don't think it makes any sense for us to trade Butcher for essentially peanuts. Vats and Murray have a long history of being injured. We need all the depth we can get.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Smith not going to make the team now because of this signing? I asked in the trade rumors area too thought Id ask the fans

He's been playing on the left side so far in camp so I don't think this affects Smith that much. I'd imagine they rotate him and Kulikov, and possibly a few others given the taxi squad, in and out of the lineup throughout the year unless one of them plays really well consistently.

 

[Forge]

We could really roll out a competent defense

 

[NJDevs26]

Not sure what you think Butcher is worth at $3.7 million, but for reference Nate Schmidt at $6 million returned a 3rd round pick.

I don’t think Butcher gets much of a return either but it has nothing to do with Schmidt, Vegas had a time crunch and a NTC to navigate.

 

[BurntToast]

Umm Kulikov is valuable. He is the most physical veteran on this team and plays sound defense. He is good at outlet passes but he is extremely limited on production. (If you absolutely have to get rid of anyone it’s probably Butcher, who is mediocre to good all around with his flaw being slow.) Honestly this move and possible others comes down to taxi squad strategies. Vats (when healthy) is a solid top 4.

Lastly, unless they absolutely blow the doors down. All D prospects not named Jacobs should be across the street marinating.