Confirmed Signing with Link: [NJD] Dmitry Kulikov signs with the Devils (1 year, $1.15M)

[Hischier and Hughes]

I didnt see it yet so I figured Id help out!

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[None Shall Pass]

 

[MardyBum]

Cheap solid depth if he can stay healthy.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Cheap solid depth if he can stay healthy.

Him and Murray equal 82 games!

 

[MMC]

Wow, he's only 29 still. Feels like he's been in the league forever. Thought he was at least 32 or 33.

 

[rubikscube]

Like that signing for them. He actually didn't suck for us in the play in round. If he's healthy he's worth way more than that

 

[ViD]

Winnipeg has no defense and they let him go ?

 

[Flyer lurker]

Easy read not bad stop gap singing for NJD. I pick Kulikov over Jack Johnson for sure.

The HMM read goes are the Jets convinced they are trading Laine and acquiring a d-man back?

 

[kilowatt]

He was a stud in NHL 12. Decent depth signing for a bottom-pairing guy.

 

[Vitto79]

They needed a depth D man
Surprised Vatanen didn’t go back

 

[MardyBum]

Winnipeg has no defense and they let him go ?

We have guys we would want to play ahead of him. Plus he was injured, a lot.

Plus plus, I'm sure he'd rather take 1.15 to play in Jersey, we already had to overpay for him once

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

Winnipeg has no defense and they let him go ?

Winnipeg had no defense when they had him.

 

[Cheddabombs]

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Easy read not bad stop gap singing for NJD. I pick Kulikov over Jack Johnson for sure.

The HMM read goes are the Jets convinced they are trading Laine and acquiring a d-man back?

Yup,as far as contract value goes better than Braun, Ghost, Sanheim, and Gustafsson as well.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Winnipeg has no defense and they let him go ?

Winnipeg had no defense when they had him.

Nice.

 

[My3Sons]

Well, it's clear the path to the Jennings trophy goes through NJ next year.

 

[Lindys Lazy Eye]

It's an upgrade over Muller and we didn't have to give up picks for him.

So there's that.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

It's an upgrade over Muller and we didn't have to give up picks for him.

So there's that.

Kulikov isn't even German, and Muller is only 31!

I kid, he is definitely an upgrade over Mueller though

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Kulikov is still a decent defenseman when he's healthy and playing. On a team with no playoff expectations you could do A LOT worse than him as your #4/5 guy.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

can't really hate it for 1 year and $1.1 million

might be able to get a free 3rd round pick or something if we're out of it too

 

[hidek91]

Solid defensively depth LHD for 1 year, can't really complain. I guess it means that neither Greene nor Vatanen come back.

 

[Eggtimer]

I haven't really watched him play that much. Does he hit or play agressive at all ? Does he have any sort of "mean" in him ? Devils have no one like that besides maybe Subban who throws an odd hit or two.
Good enough for PK1 or more of a PK2 player?
I'm guessing he slides in on the left side on bottom pairing with Smith ?

I really hope that Fitz is not done adding D. I like the signing as he is an upgrade to what we had last year in the bottom 5/6 , but still need a legit top paring D or even a 2/3/4 guy....
Dunn Sergachev Cernak type.

 

[Foppberg]

I remember when he was going to be the corner piece of a ROR trade lol.

 

[My3Sons]

Solid defensively depth LHD for 1 year, can't really complain. I guess it means that neither Greene nor Vatanen come back.

If Kulikov provides a stable defensive partner that can help PK Subban rebound somewhat he's done his job. NJ can potentially run two competent if unspectacular pairs out on defense. They need to decide what to do with the third pair. I'd suggest a similar cheap defensively solid veteran to pair with Butcher on a short term deal so the prospects NJ has on defense are not blocked.

 

[qqaz]

I was surprised to see that he was averaging minutes 20 a game last season. But then I remembered a pool noodle would have gotten 15 minutes for Winnipeg.

Not to insult the player or the team. Winnipeg is probably better without him, and Kulikov is probably better than 1.15 million.