Veteran defenceman Dmitry Kulikov is heading back to the Stanley Cup champion FLA Panthers. Four years, AAV of $1.15 million.
Roster Movesseriously...Kuli's a Panther thru and thru 💯🐀
Because he won us game 7. Without that save, Reinhart doesn't score, and it's quite possibly 2-1 Oilers.
Seriously. Kulikov will forever be a legend in my book
Kuli is awesome. So pumped to have him back with term
That's a real home town discount.
More than likely retires where it all began if he stays full term. Love to see it.
That’s a number that can go up in the rafters and a huge mentor for any younger D men coming up in the future. He’s a workhorse and physical as all get up
Four years! I’m 4 days older than him 😂. Alrighty then.
Awesome! With OEL gone, Montour potentially leaving and Ekblad being rumored to potentially being moved, it's nice we have some continuity in Forsling/Mikkola/Kulikov on the blue line.
Finished 3rd in blocks and hits for us during the regular season. Had an incredible save while falling down in the crease in Game 7 that eventually led to Rhino's goal for the winner. Glad to have him back!
Hear hear!!! Fantastic news.
Is oel officially gone?
Oh yeah. He's Toronto bound
This is a great returning piece
Nice
Huzzah!!!! I might cry a little bit for the fact that he really is here to stay.
so happy for kuli
he never wanted to leave and tallon (or was it Rowe?) traded him away
You could see how happy he was to be back and was an absolute beast in the playoffs
Friendly reminder that Fuck Tom Rowe. Welcome back Kuli
The game saving and game winning assist man!
I ordered a Kuli jersey after they won Monday so this is great news
Where did you get the jersey? From fanatics? Ive been looking for it in youth size but can’t find anything there.
Yes, it’s a Breakaway jersey that I think is made to order. I went back to get a Bob jersey and everything was totally sold out except for 5xl by Tuesday morning.
Kulikov was super useful last year, especially during the playoffs. There were key moments(like that cup winning shot for instance) where his defensive skills were key to the Panthers gaining back the momentum.
Yup. Made a lot of key plays in the playoffs and was an anchor for sure.
Not the term we were hoping for, but this is a solid deal for a bottom pair D. Dude played really well with OEL. Much better than Staal last year …
1.15 AAV is a drop in the bucket with the projected cap increases
Even with the term, that's a cap hit you can entirely bury in the AHL if his play falls off a cliff. Some good cheap depth with virtually no risk.
I'd love if they somehow kept OEL. I know it's unlikely based on the rumors. But he's getting VAN money plus whatever someone else pays him.
What? At $1.15m it could have been 8 years and the only person it affects is Viola.
If he gets waived his cap hit is $0, think of the term as a cap-exempt gift for game 7 if he doesn’t play out the whole deal.
Buddy, unless you read it as 11.5mil you need to give your head a shake. How long until entry level contracts are 1 mil? This move impacts nothing financially.
I said it was a solid deal
Love it
Fuck yeah lets go
Don't know why but I'm more hyped for this than Reinhart coming back.
The Reinhart situation never worried me, I had a good feeling he wasn't going anywhere, but getting Kulikov back is bigger than advertised.
Adds great depth and physicality and was a beast in the finals and made probably one of the biggest plays/saves in this team's history that then led to Reinhart's Game 7 GWG.