Kulikov excited about new start with Jets

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This article was published 02/07/2017 (2989 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dmitry Kulikov’s wants to forget all about the year he spent in Buffalo.

The new member of the Winnipeg Jets admits his most recent NHL season was easily the worst of his pro career and he’s anxious to prove it was simply a blip rather than a trend.

Kulikov, a 6-1, 205-pound defenceman with more than 500 NHL games behind him, was signed Saturday by Winnipeg to a three-year deal, with an average annual value of US$4.33 million.

That’s a lot of dough for a player who played just 47 games last season due to a recurring back issue, scored just twice and added three assists. But other teams were courting the Russian-born former first-round pick (14th overall) of Florida in 2009 who spent six seasons with the Panthers— scoring 28 goals and 138 points — before being dealt to the Sabres last summer.

Winnipeg coveted a left-shooting defenceman and got the deal done with Kulikov, who demonstrated in Florida he has the ability to be a steady, puck-moving rear-guard. In the Panthers’ last playoff appearance (2016), he had a goal and three assists in a six-game series the team dropped to the New York Islanders.

Kulikov, 26, said his stint with the Sabres is not a true indicator of his worth, adding he’s excited about a new start in Winnipeg.

“From the beginning of my career in Florida, we didn’t have a good team. We didn’t have a strong fan base. Then I felt my last two seasons with the Panthers, the team was on the rise. It was fun to come to the rink and it was fun to play,” Kulikov said during a conference call from Boca Raton, Fla. “Then, going to Buffalo, it was tough. Going from a team that was successful and a playoff team and going to Buffalo, it kind of set me back.

“Winnipeg is a team that I feel like, in the near future, could be contending for the Stanley Cup. I’m excited to join. Like I said, it was a huge part of my decision. To join a team that’s moving in the right direction in the very near future.”

He joins a defensive unit that includes right-shooting Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers (who missed most of last season due to injuries and a family health issue) and Jacob Trouba, and lefties Josh Morrissey, Toby Enstrom and Ben Chiarot, who just a week ago inked a new two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.4 million.

Kulikov is a third-pairing option and kill penalties as well for head coach Paul Maurice.

“They say smart players play on the penalty kill and I consider myself a smart player. I played on the penalty kill for most of my career in Florida and I enjoyed it,” said Kulikov. “I enjoy the challenge of playing against the best players on the other team.”

Kulikov was injured in the Buffalo’s first pre-season game and struggled with pain for much of the season, however, he’s “100 per cent healthy” now, he said.

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Kulikov strengthens an already solid blue line.

“We really, unfortunately, never got to see the full benefits of what our group is all about with Tyler missing 70 games last year. We liked our group going into last year… the depth of our defence is certainly greatly increased with Dmitry,” he said.

“I remember watching Dmitry play in a Florida Panthers playoff game, I think he averaged like 25 minutes a night, and he was one of their better defenceman when he was playing in the key role and they almost went on to win that series. When he was a player put on the big stage with the Florida Panthers, he produced and we’re excited to have him.”

Clubs began courting free agents on June 25 but couldn’t officially make deals until Saturday at 11 a.m CT.

This was Kulikov’s first opportunity to hit the market. He said the Jets management made a strong case, and captain Blake Wheeler and top centre Mark Scheifele did a sell job as well.

“I know Scheifele from a couple of summers ago when I trained with him in Canada and I skated with Wheeler this summer a couple of times. They played a big role in my decision. They pretty much sold me on Winnipeg, talking how good the team is and how good the guys are in the locker room,” he said.

The Jets bought out the final year of veteran defenceman Mark Stuart’s contract Friday to clear salary-cap space and open up a roster spot before Saturday’s signings of Kulikov and veteran goalie Steve Mason.

Winnipeg’s roster has a salary cap hit of nearly US$64.4 million, about US$10 million below the ceiling.

The Jets also signed a pair of depth forwards — centre Michael Sgarbossa and left-winger Buddy Robinson — and minor-league defenceman Cameron Schilling to one-year contracts.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell