Behind Enemy Lines
Registered User
Moving Kulak to 2RD until trade deadline was my July 1 off season 'plan' to get through to trade deadline with a solid, experienced top two d-pairings. Unfortunately the jigsaw puzzle now has to re-work a right side that lost 6'3"; 6'4"; 6'7" with PK and goal suppression experience.This is objectively untrue, and he was only scratched through the King series. He was great consistently after he came back in, and was arguably the best PK player on probably the best penalty kill I've ever seen.
I get it, you decided you didn't like him immediately and you refuse to acknowledge that he recovered in the back quarter of the season. He could have scored 50 last year and you would have pieced together some mental math as to how that was actually bad.
I know that Kulak isn't "comfortable" playing the right side, but I think this might actually be the best way to start the season:
Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Kulak
Dermott - Emberson
Stecher
Kulak didn't look out of place for a moment playing off side with Nurse against the Stars. I know he doesn't like playing there, but this formation balances out the defence in a way that actually makes some sense and de-risks it IMO.
I don't see a 2RD within the Arizona Coyotes Alumni group. Agree with you that it isn't ideal but Kulak to 2RD likely helps stabilize critical top two pairings. Gleason who looked good last night or Dermott might be able to hold down 3RD. A real concern for me is home plate defending with missing the size and area defending that's gone and PK work.
Though I don't think moving Kulak over is in their plans.