I personally don't think Kulikov "should" be traded but I am just responding to some who think he should be shipped off because of how he's played this year. I don't think Tallon is looking to trade him somewhere but if we're going to speculate trading him, his worth I think would be prospects alone and perhaps maybe we can get a top 6 forward from some team but only i think if we are adding another forward like a Flash or a high draft pick or something.
I don't know what kind of love you have for Kulikov but whatever.
Listen, young, good skating, top 4 defenseman don't grow on trees in the NHL. Especially with offensive upside. All 30 NHL teams don't sit and watch us every night. Kulikov has a ton of experience but he's playing on a bad team right now. In 11-12 when we were a "good team" he had by far his best season. This proves to GMs that he can perform at a level. Especially when he hit that level at age 21.
If you think his value is low you are kidding yourself, regardless of how he is playing. I never said Kulikov would land us some superstar, but he could easily land us a 20-30 goal scorer, even if we have to add something a little extra.
Teams deal from strength to fix weaknesses. Right now, our glaring weakness is goal scoring. Defense is struggling yes, but Thomas is a wall back there and we seem to be getting by for the most part in that end. We have a boatload of quality defenseman in our system including Matheson, Racine, Petrovic, and Robak. I honestly feel Robak would have the same impact on this team that Kulikov has right now, except with better offensive ability. Robak coughs the puck up just like Kuli, but Kuli is terrible with the puck. He makes awful decisions more often then not.
If you really think we won't get anything of value for Kulikov you are completely out to lunch. Why does it always have to be to a contender? Why is it only driven into your skull that we can trade our players for picks? This isn't some UFA contract expiring, this isn't a washed up old vet, this is a PRIME TRADING PIECE. Teams want players like Kulikov, and the evidence is there when a Simmons for Kulikov swap was universally accepted on the Trade and Rumors board a few weeks ago. Look at a team like the Islanders. They have an abundance of great forwards, but lack a smooth skating, puck moving defenseman. You're telling me Kulikov and change wouldn't fetch us Kyle Okposo? Or we couldn't get a Bonino or Silfverberg from Anaheim?
Listen, I loved Kulikov when he was drafted. I have wanted him to succeed in a Panther uniform for so long, and I thought after the 11-12 season, he was finally taking the next step. Well has only regressed since then and hasn't been the same at all. I feel like our time with him is done. We've had him for 5 years, and he isn't want we want him to be. If he moves to another team and finds his game, that is great, but it likely will not happen here in Florida. He's still at the stage of his career where he can be moved for something of value. Another year or two of this play and his value drops significantly.
It's time to call a spade a spade and realize that Kulikov just isn't going to be what he was supposed to be when drafted, at least not while wearing a Panther uniform.
I expect him to be moved sooner rather than later. He's not a trade deadline type of deal where teams try and tack on players for a last minute cup run. This is a guy who a lesser team might invest in as part of THEIR future. That's fine. But it's time to trade him because his value to this team just isn't there anymore.
