Confirmed with Link: Devils sign Kulikov

[Goptor]

so we'll have butcher, sevo, murray, kulikov, smith, subban, carrick, and an 8th? we'll carry 8?

I think we need 8 with Murray on the roster

 

[Billdo]

I’m hoping he just ends up being the #7 injury fill in or a guy that can step in for Smith when he needs a night off. He’s perfect in that role. Hope Fitz has one more move for a D upgrade under his sleeve.

The problem is if he's the 7th who is the 2nd and 3rd LD? Butcher will be one but there's still an empty slot. I think Kulikov is in the top 6 opening night.

 

[Triumph]

Wasn't thrilled when it was announced but Kulikov had bounced back from that terrible season in Buffalo and now appears mildly competent. I've never been a fan of his but he can exist on the left side.

I think the idea organizationally is that if any of these guys miss significant time on the left side that Bahl will get a chance in the NHL. They can also shift Smith over to the left side.

 

[R8Devs]

i think he has scored like 2 ot goals vs the devils iirc. the first one was his second year and I remember everyone was pretty hyped about him and his upside.

 

[Devilsgrl35]

A one year deal for somebody that we can trade for a pick if we're out of it at the deadline are my favorite signings.

 

[MadDevil]

He seems like a perfect candidate for this years "decent third pairing defenseman who ends up getting overplayed that we all fight about".

Actually, scratch that. We still have Butcher for that.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

so as it stands now...

Murray-Severson
Butcher-Subban
Kulikov-T. Smith
Carrick

I guess?

Definitely need another LD, Murray will get injured.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

A one year deal for somebody that we can trade for a pick if we're out of it at the deadline are my favorite signings.

What would he fetch a 3rd or 4th round pick ? I'll tale an extra draft pick but I'd like to see him contribute and us start to turn a corner this season.

 

[Brodeur]

Here's an approximate LD depth chart around the league. Some guys play the right side (notably Sergachev, Hjalmarsson, Goligski, Cole). Not too many spots left, I'd guess that Chara/Greene re-sign eventually. I'd think LA would add somebody as well. Klefbom/Kempny are expected to miss a chunk of next season.

Anaheim: Lindholm-Fowler-Djoos-Curran-Larsson-Mahura-Guhle
Arizona: OEL-Chychrun-Hjalmarsson-Goligoski-Oesterle
Calgary: Giordano-Hanifin-Valimaki-Kylington-Mackey
Edmonton: Klefbom-Nurse-Russell-Jones-Broberg
Los Angeles: Maatta-_________-MacDermid-Bjornfot-Anderson-Clague
San Jose: Vlasic-Simek-Ferraro-Middleton-Pasichnuk
Vancouver: Edler-Hughes-Benn-Juolevi-Rathbone
Vegas: Theodore-McNabb-Martinez-Holden-Dahlstrom-Hague-Schuldt


Chicago: Keith-de Haan-Zadorov-Seeler-Mitchell
Colorado: Girard-Toews-Graves-Cole-Byram-Gilbert
Dallas: Lindell-Heiskanen-Oleksiak-Sekera-Hanley
Minnesota: Suter-Brodin-Soucy-Hunt-Belpedio
Nashville: Josi-Ekholm-Borowiecki-Tinordi-Davies
St. Louis: Krug-Scandella-Dunn-Gunnarsson-Miikola-Perunovich
Winnipeg: Morrissey-Forbort-Beaulieu-Sbisa-Niku-Stanley


Boston: _________-Grzelcyk-Moore-Lauzon-Zboril-Vaakanainen
Buffalo: Dahlin-McCabe-Irwin-Davidson-Samuelsson
Detroit: DeKeyser-Nemeth-Staal-Merrill-Cholowski-Hicketts
Florida: Yandle-Nutivaara-__________-Stillman-Rauhauser
Montreal: Chiarot-Edmundson-Romanov-Mete-Kulak
Ottawa: Chabot-Reilly-Brannstrom-Wolanin-Lajoie
Tampa Bay: Hedman-Sergachev-McDonagh-Coburn-Masin
Toronto: Rielly-Muzzin-Dermott-Lehtonen-Sandin


Carolina: Slavin-Skjei-Gardiner-Fleury-Bean-Forsling
Columbus: Werenski-Gavrikov-Harrington-Kukan-Carlsson
New Jersey: Murray-Kulikov-Butcher-Smith-White-Bahl
NY Islanders: Leddy-Pelech-________-Hickey-Aho-Wotherspoon
NY Rangers: Lindgren-Johnson-Smith-Hajek-Miller-Bitetto
Philadelphia: Provorov-Sanheim-Gustafsson-Gostisbehere-Hagg-Morin
Pittsburgh: Dumoulin-Pettersson-Matheson-Riikola-Joseph
Washington: Orlov-Dillon-Kempny-Siegenthaler-Fehevary

 

[Cheddabombs]

Rangers really giving us a run for our money with that kind of depth eh

 

[AfroThunder396]

I mean he's not very good, but he's a left handed D and it's only for one year. I expect him to be a healthy scratch or traded by the end of the year.

Clearly just a placeholder for Smith who will almost certainly be starting on the right side.

 

[Team Concept]

Depth for a crammed schedule. In a perfect world Kulikov is the 7th D

He was 4th in minutes this past season for the Jets. So at this point he is top 4.

 

[Nubmer6]

He was 4th in minutes this past season for the Jets. So at this point he is top 4.

Ya, but I was just reading an article before about how he was in way over his head on the 2nd pairing leading to a horrible year for him. I'll try to hunt it back down when I'm feeling less lazy.

 

[Davegarri]

Not a bad signing. Rather him than Mueller

 

[Emperoreddy]

They need vet bodies. You guys are setting yourself up for disappointment to think some big savior trade is coming.

The type of D trade we need isn't happening until we are able to sell our first.

 

[MadDevil]

He was 4th in minutes this past season for the Jets. So at this point he is top 4.

That's kind of like saying Andy Greene is still a top 4 defenseman because he was 4th in minutes for us.

 

[MadDevil]

They need vet bodies. You guys are setting yourself up for disappointment to think some big savior trade is coming.

The type of D trade we need isn't happening until we are able to sell our first.

I fully expect our defense to be rather patchwork for the next year or two. Which I'm okay with as long as we don't end up forcing a kid like Smith over his head and risk hurting his development. Maybe we get lucky and somebody good becomes available, but if the market isn't there, it isn't there. We can't force teams to make legit top 4 defensemen available.

 

[glenwo2]

My only recent memory of Kulikov

I miss Pickles already.

 

[njdevils1982]

I miss Pickles already.

OT but,

i had severe hand cramps today while installing pot lights for a client …so bad i asked them if they 'had any pickle brine i could drink?'

i explained why and they did have it

 

[snowkiddin]

He was actually pretty solid in Winnipeg last year. He’s no Victor Hedman, but for that price, he’ll be a decent fit on the bottom pair for you guys. Hopefully he can stay healthy.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I fully expect our defense to be rather patchwork for the next year or two. Which I'm okay with as long as we don't end up forcing a kid like Smith over his head and risk hurting his development. Maybe we get lucky and somebody good becomes available, but if the market isn't there, it isn't there. We can't force teams to make legit top 4 defensemen available.

At the very least not force them to sell them for pennies on the dollar.

Prospect wise our D depth has greatly improved, but we still lack high end talent there and it's hard to see where it comes from unless we get lucky.

Its going to take a trade down the line that is going to be expensive. 1st plus a very good prospect or a younger roster player with term.

As you said we really won't be in a position to make that kind of move for another year or two so going patchwork is the best we can do.

The key is to protect Smith. So if it means overplaying a scrub, then so be it. I would have zero issue if Smith was in Bingo this year. Learning how to play professional D is difficult and takes time.

 

[Camille the Eel]

I recall him being a useful point man on the power play. Serviceable anyway, with a good shot and some creativity as far as moving within the group, skating and finding open spaces with the man advantage. Also has a bit of a nasty edge to his game at times.

Maybe in Ruff’s system, if what he plays here resembles what he did in NY and Buffalo, where the D joins the rush on the fly and the 5 man unit is emphasized, he will fit in well.

 

[BurntToast]

I don’t have any issues with this signing. The Devils need to be more physical on Defense.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Upgrade on Mueller. Nothing more than a bottom pairing /7th defenseman stop gap.

Probably gives the team better depth than bringing back Claesen or Mermis.

I still think Fitzgerald is not done and will add another defenseman.

 

[archiemandl]

the problem is I can't see anyone taking on his contract

Isles? for boychuk+? devils saves real money, get a player who can play with smith+ sweetener. Isles saves cap space and get replacement for toews.