Not a home run or anything but a solid depth signing. Doesn’t block one of the kids from beating him out either with the low cap hit. Bahl probably takes his spot next year
Move approved!
Move approved!
Confirmed with Link: Devils sign Kulikov
- Thread starter None Shall Pass
- Start date
Brooklyndevil
Registered User
Sounds like a decent pick up. However, with his and Murray’s past injury issues, Fritz may not be done with the defense.
johnny pierogi
15 MINUTES OF FAYNE
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Another bad move by the Devils. Fitz showing his inexperience by not knowing that anyone the Panthers didn't keep is worthless. Notice that the real contenders in our division like Carolina and the Rangers didn't pick him up.
Jason MacIsaac
Registered User
I like this move, played extremely tough minutes for Winnipeg last year. Didn't fare the best but was certainly a serviceable defensemen in 18/19. Could rebound to that level at minimal cost. Plus, looks like a good match for Smith on the 3rd pair.
Billdo
Registered User
Zippy316
aka Zippo
Smart move. Should be a solid veteran option (with size) on the bottom pair capable of filling in anywhere.
We needed that type of defender to pair with Smith (and hopefully eventually Butcher if Smith moves up the lineup).
We needed that type of defender to pair with Smith (and hopefully eventually Butcher if Smith moves up the lineup).
Boychuck probably has very little tread left on his tires. He’s been out, injured or scratched an inordinate amount of time the past two seasons. If we could get the “Johnny Rocket” of circa 2012-2014 it would be one thing. But I think he’s very possibly done or pretty much so.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
Boychuk is horrendous and the Isles don't have many prime assets that I would be interested in
JimEIV
Registered User
- Feb 19, 2003
- 66,165
- 28,506
Breaking News: Fitzgerald spotted cruising local area hospital for NHL talent.
Seems like the caveat for every player we've added this off season is "If healthy" - I think we have signed the entire NHL infirmary this off season.
Seems like the caveat for every player we've added this off season is "If healthy" - I think we have signed the entire NHL infirmary this off season.
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
Stamkos trade coming next
Devil X
Call me Nostradamus
Heard he was in contact with Beau Bennett. He would really add to the offense here.... "if healthy"
It's the old engineering adage as applied to hockey - good, cheap, healthy, pick two.
I don't think many of you understand how good this signing is. Our current Defense is made up of people who's best quality is their offensive game. Having a stay at home defensemen that can play up and down the line up with Severson, Butcher, Subban, makes this a homerun in my opinion.
OmNomNom
Taco is Love, Taco is Life
note that we have okhotyuk, bahl, and walsh signed to their ELCs too, so they may get trials as well. one of em is bound to make it
Oneiro
Registered User
- Mar 28, 2013
- 9,443
- 11,011
For me, Ruff is a bigger factor than either Murray or Kulikov. We have the forwards to turn the puck around fast and we have the D to flip it to them. It's always been about getting stops and actually having the puck.
There's been so much debate about Severson and Butcher that this may be the year we can finally settle it. When they're on, they are two of the better transition D in the league (ditto for Subban).
There's been so much debate about Severson and Butcher that this may be the year we can finally settle it. When they're on, they are two of the better transition D in the league (ditto for Subban).
- Dec 20, 2018
- 21,772
- 46,980
It’s the second year on Boychuk’s deal that makes him nearly untradable. The sweetener would have to be excessively sweet. A team can’t give up 2021-22 cap space when the cap is going to remain flat, it’s too valuable and you don’t know what will shake loose.
I wouldn’t ask for Dobson, that’s a ridiculous ask but I would want their 2022 1st only top 3 protected and thats something they wouldn’t want to lose.
LOL it does help to have those......He played decent for the Jets even filled in on right side.....Just tells you their thoughts on Mueller.
What? You mean we're not going to have our forwards fly the zone and then have to stop and wait at the opposing blue line while our D gets double-teamed and have no closer outlet passes or pressure relief valves?
That's crazy talk.
Another terrific signing by Fitzgerald, and there can be really no disputing this if only because of the contract terms.
I've been watching Kulikov for years, and he's a very good defenseman, when healthy. The "when healthy" would be a huge concern were the Devils a Stanley Cup hopeful or if they had just signed him to a four-year, $16 million deal. But at 1 year, $1.5 million? The Devils have essentially picked up a big, mobile, smart, physical and capable left defender on not much more than a "prove it" deal. The Devils went into the 2020 off-season with Will Butcher as their top LD on the depth chart. With the addition of two superior defenders in Ryan Murray (acquired for a 5th round pick) and Dmitri Kulikov (acquired for what amounts to "petty cash"), the Devils are no longer a complete liability on LD.
It certainly bears noting that both Murray and Kulikov have had trouble staying healthy over their careers, and the Devils could certainly benefit by adding one more player to provide stability and depth for the left side of the blueline (I would strongly recommend a one-year deal to a familiar face in Andy Greene).
Best case scenario? The Devils have rid themselves of an abominably bad coach in John Hynes, while solidifying their biggest concerns in goal with Crawford, and on LD with Kulikov and Murray. Though the Devils are far from a pre-season favorite, if they are healthy and get expected production leaps from young studs like Hischier, Hughes and Bratt (also Smith), they can challenge for one of the lower playoff spots.
But it's actually the worst case scenario which makes the Kulikov (and Murray) acquisitions so shrewd. If the Devils are heading towards the lottery at the trade deadline, capable NHL defenders like Kulikov and Murray are annually in demand at that time. If healthy, these are certainly players who can garner the Devils a second or third round pick.
Like the Murray trade and the Crawford signing, the Kulikov signing makes the Devils stronger now and potentially stronger in the future. Kudos once more to Mr. Fitzgerald.
I've been watching Kulikov for years, and he's a very good defenseman, when healthy. The "when healthy" would be a huge concern were the Devils a Stanley Cup hopeful or if they had just signed him to a four-year, $16 million deal. But at 1 year, $1.5 million? The Devils have essentially picked up a big, mobile, smart, physical and capable left defender on not much more than a "prove it" deal. The Devils went into the 2020 off-season with Will Butcher as their top LD on the depth chart. With the addition of two superior defenders in Ryan Murray (acquired for a 5th round pick) and Dmitri Kulikov (acquired for what amounts to "petty cash"), the Devils are no longer a complete liability on LD.
It certainly bears noting that both Murray and Kulikov have had trouble staying healthy over their careers, and the Devils could certainly benefit by adding one more player to provide stability and depth for the left side of the blueline (I would strongly recommend a one-year deal to a familiar face in Andy Greene).
Best case scenario? The Devils have rid themselves of an abominably bad coach in John Hynes, while solidifying their biggest concerns in goal with Crawford, and on LD with Kulikov and Murray. Though the Devils are far from a pre-season favorite, if they are healthy and get expected production leaps from young studs like Hischier, Hughes and Bratt (also Smith), they can challenge for one of the lower playoff spots.
But it's actually the worst case scenario which makes the Kulikov (and Murray) acquisitions so shrewd. If the Devils are heading towards the lottery at the trade deadline, capable NHL defenders like Kulikov and Murray are annually in demand at that time. If healthy, these are certainly players who can garner the Devils a second or third round pick.
Like the Murray trade and the Crawford signing, the Kulikov signing makes the Devils stronger now and potentially stronger in the future. Kudos once more to Mr. Fitzgerald.
Okhotyuk and Bahl would probably benefit from another year of minor pro development more than limited minutes at the NHL level. Walsh needs to shore up his defensive play before an NHL coach can rely on him. Hopefully there will be an AHL season to develop these three prospects.
Have you been able to watch Walsh much at Harvard? He's a guy I wonder about. Obviously he's been in the system for a little while, I was hoping that 3 years playing for a good program in the NCAA would polish him a bit.
Walsh's offense is very good. His defense is not abominable, but it's far from ideal. He's a lot like a faster version of Butcher -- he's terrific when he has the puck, but he's a bit of a liability without it. He's very beatable one-on-one, and he's not enough of an entity along the boards or in the crease. I'd say that right now, Ty Smith is a better option at RD in every single respect than Walsh -- there's really no aspect of the game which I would rank Walsh higher than Smith.
Walsh has the IQ and puck skills to make it in the NHL as a 35-45 point, second-pairing type, but only if his defense becomes at least passable. But I would say he has more upside than Butcher on account of the fact that he skates very well.
Guadana
Registered User
I`m repeating myself about Butcher
Kulikov with absolutely safe deal. After all only thing i need is trade for Cernak. Reasonable for us, very reasonable for Tampa(cap and seattle draft problems).
Kulikov with absolutely safe deal. After all only thing i need is trade for Cernak. Reasonable for us, very reasonable for Tampa(cap and seattle draft problems).
I agree with you in that Butcher becomes the 3LD with the acquisitions of Kulikov and Murray, which is as high as you want him on the depth chart. Though I like the way Butcher thinks the game and find him to be a very good puck distributor, the fact remains that Butcher is a defenseman who is, quite simply, overmatched against most NHL forwards while defending. It's just so difficult to overcome his disadvantages with skating and physical strength.
Like you, I'd love to bring in a guy like Erik Cernak to New Jersey. But though I agree with you that it makes sense -- I don't foresee the Lightning trading any of their very talented RFA trio (Cernak, Sergachev, Cirelli) until they have exhausted all possible options of trying to keep them in Tampa.
