Confirmed with Link: Habs sign Brett Kulak for 3 years 1.85AAV

[The Great Weal]

Kotkaniemis caphit is .950k, like every rookie.

The goal is to not overpay on those contracta because you want to have the most money for the big guys. One of those isnt much, but if he stays a 7D and hes payed almost 2Ms, that becomes a problem, even more so when you have Shaw, Byron and co making the type of money they do... suddenly you have 15 millions in cap tied to 4th liners and 7th Ds.

Money is not the issue for the Habs if they want to sign top UFAs.

 

[LyricalLyricist]

I don't think this is a popular opinion(not sure) but I would sign Benn too. I'd give Alzner a chance at camp but I'd send another top 4 D too.

 

[Redux91]

Theres a percentage allowed for performance bonuses... and since theres only top rookies that get it you rarely pay them.

Also Schlemko was overpaid, and a lot of players are overpaid. The goal is to penny pinch to have the best team possible. Handing out 1.9 millions for three years for a 7th D isnt it.

Cap hit remains.

Sure they were "overpaid", 75% of the league is "overpaid". What are you gonna ask every single players on your team to take a discount?? See how far that gets you.
You wanna know what St louis payed Joel Edmunson to be bottom pair? for 12 points? 3 million.
And as it stands, Kulak is the 5th D, because you "think" and "wish" he's a 7th D to help your narrative is not the same as actual reality.

For his production alone 1.85 is a steal. Couple years ago it would be more like 1.5, and in the coming years it will be 2+. Thats simply how the CBA works.

 

[jfm133]

Yes 8-10 M$ of unused cap space this year because in the next two years you will need to resign Petry, Mete, Juulsen, Domi, Kotkaniemi, Poehling, Danault, Tatar and Gallagher. My guess is that they will eat up the 8-10 M$ pretty easily. So yes we need guys like Kulak, Weal, Thompson and Folin on relatively cheap contracts.

 

[Redux91]

I don't think this is a popular opinion(not sure) but I would sign Benn too. I'd give Alzner a chance at camp but I'd send another top 4 D too.

But whyyyyy throw money away at another bottom pairing D?? again??We need all the money we can spare if you want to be aggressive in UFA, or have to handle with incoming raises, but instead moneys tied up with an icing specialist...

My god we cant just keep signing number 5-6-7 D and hope for a miracle that one of them becomes top pairing, it just makes NO sense to me

Remember how long Benn - Weber lasted this year? it was over by the 2nd period.

 

[Mrb1p]

Byron, Shaw and Kulak aren't 4th liners/7th D though.

They have historically been just that. Kulak isnt anything better than a 7th, hes struggle to stay in the Habs line-up, lol.

Byron and Shaw have been 4th liners for like 90% of their careers...

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Good contract.

 

[Bee Holder]

Kulak , Folin, Weal and Thompson are not what this team needs. You go after skill and goals and if you have money remaining you sign the plugs. Its looking more and more like another year with 8-10M of unused cap space

Well, the UFA market is not open until July 1st, so stay tuned for more!

I think this is the year MTL goes for a big name in the market

 

[Guns n Roses]

I am ecstatic, i think his learning curve is great and the he will continue to progress much more then people will expect.
So to lock 3 years at this price is beyond great

I honestly see a great number 4 defenseman here, maybe even a 3. Kulak does lots of things well, Jack of all trades.

 

[Redux91]

They have historically been just that. Kulak isnt anything better than a 7th, hes struggle to stay in the Habs line-up, lol.

Byron and Shaw have been 4th liners for like 90% of their careers...

Huh? and Huh?? Dont even know where to begin lmao
Kulak played 19 games in Laval to start the season, 57 In montreal after call up, Thats 76 games. But lets hold it against Kulak the team didnt know for sure what they had with him when the season started because we were still giving Schlemko and Alzner a shot..., and gave him a chance a couple months in, where he.... remained.

And jesus, Byron and Giroux were amazing together in Junior, he wasnt a 4th liner... And Byron's only played a handful of games on the habs 4th line over the past 3 years...

and lol....you think Shaw was a 4th liner in chicago lmao, he's not even a 4th liner in montreal....

Where do you come up with this shit?

 

[LyricalLyricist]

But whyyyyy throw money away at another bottom pairing D?? again??We need all the money we can spare if you want to be aggressive in UFA, or have to handle with incoming raises, but instead moneys tied up with an icing specialist...

My god we cant just keep signing number 5-6-7 D and hope for a miracle that one of them becomes top pairing, it just makes NO sense to me

Remember how long Benn - Weber lasted this year? it was over by the 2nd period.

Because we aren't getting any top end guys.

If you think Duchene, Karlsson or Panarin are coming here you're lost.

I fully expect next season to be another status quo year. We won't contend for anything, we may even regress. Having cheap assets at the deadline is huge.

There are no major raises this year.

Domi, Juulsen and Mete are RFA after next season and that's pretty tame.

Weise, Peca, Thompson, Deslauriers are all off the books at that point too.

In 2 years Tatar, Petry, Danault, Gallagher, Poehling and Kotkaniemi are up to be signed but if you give Benn or whoever a 2 year deal he's off the books by then anyway.

 

[Redux91]

Because we aren't getting any top end guys.

If you think Duchene, Karlsson or Panarin are coming here you're lost.

I fully expect next season to be another status quo year. We won't contend for anything, we may even regress. Having cheap assets at the deadline is huge.

Man why do you even watch lol, there's such a number of people here that are doom and gloom no matter what until we pick 1st overall 3 years in a row, its insane... but no "im lost" because i dont want to sign a bag full of bottom pairing defenseman??

Just because we have trouble signing top end guys doesnt mean we have to settle for bottom end guys.
Nowhere did i state which UFA's i want, just that there ARE some out there, and we have money and were not dead last... things have changed.
Things are angling our way for the first time in a loooong time, so i understand people being skeptical.. but man, its not IMPOSSIBLE to think not 1 of the top free agents wouldnt want to play in montreal, after hearing all the shit Kulak just said.
Maybe, just maybe, circumstances aside, there ARE some of the 730 players in the NHL that do want to play in montreal, because i guarantee you the percentage is not 0. Only a sith deals in absolutes

 

[LyricalLyricist]

Man why do you even watch lol, there's such a number of people here that are doom and gloom no matter what until we pick 1st overall 3 years in a row, its insane... but no "im lost" because i dont want to sign a bag full of bottom pairing defenseman??

Just because we have trouble signing top end guys doesnt mean we have to settle for bottom end guys.
Nowhere did i state which UFA's i want, just that there ARE some out there, and we have money and were not dead last... things have changed.
Things are angling our way for the first time in a loooong time, so i understand people being skeptical.. but man, its not IMPOSSIBLE to think not 1 of the top free agents wouldnt want to play in montreal, after hearing all the **** Kulak just said.
Maybe, just maybe, circumstances aside, there ARE some of the 730 players in the NHL that do want to play in montreal, because i guarantee you the percentage is not 0. Only a sith deals in absolutes

I never said settle. I said I'd pursue a top 4 D-man anyway.

90% of the team had career years last season, it's hard to sustain.

As for a top UFA coming here. The 3 I mentioned are the TOP. Gardiner and company are not top, they're second tier so if you're suggesting that it isn't top.

Karlsson: Just left Ottawa, will not go to Montreal as we're rival AND he just escaped a shitstorm in a canadian market. I bet he stays away from spotlight.

Duchene/Panarin: Good run in CLB. Maybe they stay, maybe they don't. Panarin rumored to want Chicago or Florida. Duchene, we're not sure.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

3 years for a depth defenseman, I don't like this at all.

yeah imagine that 700k per year albatross if we have to buy him out or whatever nickels it is.

 

[Redux91]

Kulak , Folin, Weal and Thompson are not what this team needs. You go after skill and goals and if you have money remaining you sign the plugs. Its looking more and more like another year with 8-10M of unused cap space

Thats funny, because the team improved with the addition of all 4 overall.

Im not sure if you understand how the processes usually work... but you kind of have to get your RFA's that you want to keep under contract before possible arbitrations...
Most teams focus on their RFA's FIRST, you know...because you can actually talk to them before the offseason....

What youre asking for is for a GM to work in reverse, sign UFA's, deal with RFA's later...
This is standard procedure... and as far as i can tell, Bergevin is wrapping up signing the RFA's he really wants, and its becoming apparent which RFA's he will qualify or let walk.

Also if people sign their qualifying offers, then there isnt much a GM can do with trying to save money for the UFA's

 

[le_sean]

Huh? and Huh?? Dont even know where to begin lmao
Kulak played 19 games in Laval to start the season, 57 In montreal after call up, Thats 76 games. But lets hold it against Kulak the team didnt know for sure what they had with him when the season started because we were still giving Schlemko and Alzner a shot..., and gave him a chance a couple months in, where he.... remained.

And jesus, Byron and Giroux were amazing together in Junior, he wasnt a 4th liner... And Byron's only played a handful of games on the habs 4th line over the past 3 years...

and lol....you think Shaw was a 4th liner in chicago lmao, he's not even a 4th liner in montreal....

Where do you come up with this ****?

You didn’t hear? Players never develop. Kotkaniemi has been junior Finnish player most of his career so he’s set to be non-NHL calibre.

 

[OldCraig71]

"Bergie" just needs to add a veteran backup for Pricer and he might be done. For those of you posting about potential big name ufa's signing here, are you joking? If any of you were a big name 27+-year-old ufa what in the world would cause you to want to consider the habs as a potential destination? Players would take less money to go to a better run organization with some good homegrown talent and with a potential to win, that is not us. I predict that outside of a trade I don't see us landing a big name player, lower tier ufa's will be available for us and they are certainly not what this team needs more of. We have plenty of middle of the road guys right now thank-you very much. Yes I know this it the Kulak thread and he is a classic example of what the organization's goal is, "cheap diamonds in the rough" Paul Byron yadda-yadda.

 

[Redux91]

yeah imagine that 700k per year albatross if we have to buy him out or whatever nickels it is.

Been waiting to say this exact line all day lmao

 

[Redux91]

You didn’t hear? Players never develop. Kotkaniemi has been junior Finnish player most of his career so he’s set to be non-NHL calibre.

Oh believe me I already know Kotkaniemis career is FINISHED if you listen to the "experts" around here. Too bad, what could of been.

 

[ECWHSWI]

You know the offseason hasnt started yet, yes?

already have 11 NHL forwards, that doesnt include Aremia and Lehkonen who are RFA
Weber, Petry, Mete, Kulak, folin will all be back
Price is still the goalie

and the off-season hasnt started yet,,,

 

[Mrb1p]

Man why do you even watch lol, there's such a number of people here that are doom and gloom no matter what until we pick 1st overall 3 years in a row, its insane... but no "im lost" because i dont want to sign a bag full of bottom pairing defenseman??

Just because we have trouble signing top end guys doesnt mean we have to settle for bottom end guys.
Nowhere did i state which UFA's i want, just that there ARE some out there, and we have money and were not dead last... things have changed.
Things are angling our way for the first time in a loooong time, so i understand people being skeptical.. but man, its not IMPOSSIBLE to think not 1 of the top free agents wouldnt want to play in montreal, after hearing all the **** Kulak just said.
Maybe, just maybe, circumstances aside, there ARE some of the 730 players in the NHL that do want to play in montreal, because i guarantee you the percentage is not 0. Only a sith deals in absolutes

You realize Kulak is a bottom pairing D, or a 7th D?

 

[Redux91]

already have 11 NHL forwards, that doesnt include Aremia and Lehkonen who are RFA
Weber, Petry, Mete, Kulak, folin will all be back
Price is still the goalie

and the off-season hasnt started yet,,,

Yes...right...we uh, cant move anybody out...until offseason..
Whats the problem? whats so complicated

 

[Treb]

They have historically been just that. Kulak isnt anything better than a 7th, hes struggle to stay in the Habs line-up, lol.

Byron and Shaw have been 4th liners for like 90% of their careers...

Shaw - 30+ pts pace for the last 6 years (including 2 seasons of 39 and 47 pts) out of 8 years career
Byron - 30+ points for the last 3 years and on pace for 20 goals for the last 3 years (out of a 6 years career).
Kulak - 25 years old in his 3rd NHL season double his pts output from the previous year.

Ok, 90% of their career....

 

[Mrb1p]

Shaw - 30+ pts pace for the last 6 years (including 2 seasons of 39 and 47 pts) out of 8 years career
Byron - 30+ points for the last 3 years and on pace for 20 goals for the last 3 years (out of a 6 years career).
Kulak - 25 years old in his 3rd NHL season double his pts output from the previous year.

Ok, 90% of their career....

What about Armia and Lekhonen? Most say theyre 4th liners and they have similar production... would you be happy if I said 3td liners? Its not wise to overpay your fourth and third liners.

 

[Redux91]

You realize Kulak is a bottom pairing D, or a 7th D?

Yep, 1 (One, Uno, Un) "bottom pairing D, or a 7th D?", ...How many bottom pairing LD do you want exactly...?, because i can list what the others did and what happened to them last year.

And with Folin , and Juulsen and people waiting in the AHL for a call up. The bottom pair possibilities are pretty much wrapped up.
And so, if we do amazingly sign Jordie Benn, I guess that pushes Mr. 7th D Kulak to top 4 dont it? Unless.... you think Benn is...top 4 caliber? Hm

Anything else?