DMITRY KULIKOV - Defenseman - 28 - $4.33MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2020-2021
LAST UPDATED 9/1/19
I think Dmitry Kulikov is a bit underrated at this point. I'm not saying he's perfect, he's actually far from it, but I think that the residual effects of him being such a disappointment as a former point-per-game QMJHL defenseman are still alive. Sure, Kulikov's offensive game never developed. His 62 points in 57 games for QMJHL Drummondville didn't translate to the professional level, and he has not hit 20 points since 2014-15. His skating ability and aggressiveness haven't yielded great scoring, and his overall offensive awareness and puck skills just aren't there. I'll give you that, fine. But the idea that Kulikov is this below-average defensive defenseman is simply not true. He's not an overwhelming force, I'm not claiming that, but he is a capable defensive player and a sound penalty killer. He has decent size and his speed allows him to close in on loose pucks quickly and facilitate zone exits. He shouldn't be in the most high leverage defensive situations, but he can still contribute and kill penalties. Given his lack of offense, though, his overall value suffers, but his puck moving and penalty killing ability (as well as overall defensive ability) makes him a fine anchor for your bottom pairing or a decent filler as a second pairing guy. An average #4 defenseman.
I think Dmitry Kulikov is a bit underrated at this point. I'm not saying he's perfect, he's actually far from it, but I think that the residual effects of him being such a disappointment as a former point-per-game QMJHL defenseman are still alive. Sure, Kulikov's offensive game never developed. His 62 points in 57 games for QMJHL Drummondville didn't translate to the professional level, and he has not hit 20 points since 2014-15. His skating ability and aggressiveness haven't yielded great scoring, and his overall offensive awareness and puck skills just aren't there. I'll give you that, fine. But the idea that Kulikov is this below-average defensive defenseman is simply not true. He's not an overwhelming force, I'm not claiming that, but he is a capable defensive player and a sound penalty killer. He has decent size and his speed allows him to close in on loose pucks quickly and facilitate zone exits. He shouldn't be in the most high leverage defensive situations, but he can still contribute and kill penalties. Given his lack of offense, though, his overall value suffers, but his puck moving and penalty killing ability (as well as overall defensive ability) makes him a fine anchor for your bottom pairing or a decent filler as a second pairing guy. An average #4 defenseman.
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