Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Dmitry Kulikov

Atlantic Notes: Kulikov, Kampfer, Ceci, Zetterberg

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Former Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov said he was ‘surprised’ that he was dealt to Buffalo at the draft, writes George Richards of the Miami Herald.  Kulikov knew there was a chance he could be moved but hadn’t heard that the Sabres were one of the teams that was interested in him.  Kulikov told Richards that he was excited for the move and also noted that there were times in the past he wanted to be traded:

“I’m excited to change the scenery a little bit, go on to a new team. It felt right for some reason. After being here so many years … There were times I wanted Florida to trade me, then we drafted some good players and the team started to turn around and it was fun, so, at that point, I wanted to stay. But when the trade came, it felt like a good opportunity for me to step up my game.”

Kulikov is entering the final year of a three year, $13MM contract he signed back in the 2014 offseason and will undoubtedly be pushing to improve upon a one goal, 16 assist effort from last year.  He’s likely to start next season in a top four role with the Sabres.

Other tidbits from the Atlantic Division:

  • Also from Richards’ column, Panthers blueliner Steven Kampfer is fully recovered from offseason knee surgery. Kampfer noted he had been playing through pain since December and is now pain free.  Kampfer will likely be in a heated battle for a roster spot at training camp as Florida has nine defensemen that could conceivably make a push for a space on the opening night roster.
  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that talks continue between the Senators and RFA defender Cody Ceci and that they are looking at two and six year deals (Twitter links). Ceci had a career high 10 goals and 26 points in 75 games with Ottawa while averaging 19:18 per game.
  • NHL.com reports that Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg has been named captain of Sweden’s entry into next month’s World Cup of Hockey. It will be Zetterberg’s 13th appearance internationally for his home country.  As their depth chart currently stands, he will likely be in a battle for a middle six spot in Sweden’s lineup.

Panthers Extend Reilly Smith For Five Years

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Clearly the biggest players in free agency this year, the Florida Panthers are close to another move to lock up their young core. Gary Lawless of TSN was first to report that the team was close to an extension with forward Reilly Smith that would pay him $5MM a season for an additional five years.  The team has since confirmed the length of the deal, though not the financial details.

In just the past few weeks, the team has traded for then signed Keith Yandle, dealt away Dmitry Kulikov, given extensions to Aaron Ekblad and Vincent Trocheck, signed free agents Jason Demers and James Reimer, and pretty much owned the hockey world.

Smith, 25, had an excellent season last year with the Panthers, scoring 25 goals and 50 points. The former third round pick has had quite a start to his career, putting up at least 40 points in each of his first three full seasons. The talented young winger came over to Florida in the deal that saw them take on Marc Savard’s cap-hit from the Bruins, one that they recently dealt to New Jersey for some cap relief of their own.

The Panthers have been on quite a clear path lately, trying to push past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1996, the year they lost in the Cup finals to Colorado. After being knocked out by the New York Islanders last season, the team has made clear upgrades to their defensive group, and should have one of the better top pairings in the league with Ekblad and Yandle signed long-term.

Smith is still under contract for next season at a $3.43MM cap hit, meaning that a five-year extension would take him through the 2021-22 season.  Perhaps not coincidentally, that is also when Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov will hit free agency, giving the team a chance to re-tool if they need to at that point.

If the financials are true, it would mean the Panthers have four young forwards under contract long-term for less than $6MM apiece in Barkov, Trocheck, Smith and Nick Bjugstad. All 25 or under, that quartet scored 93 goals last season. Next on the to-do list would be Jonathan Huberdeau, the former third overall pick who put up 20 goals of his own last season.  He’s due $3.25MM next year before becoming an arbitration-eligible RFA next summer.

Snapshots: Subban, Kulikov, Fowler, Shattenkirk

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

In advance of tonight’s first round of the draft, many prominent defensemen have seen their name involved in trade speculation in recent days.  Here is the latest on who may or may not be on the move.

Florida Acquires Rights To Keith Yandle

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

UPDATE: 7:28 PM CST: Stephen Whyno from AP Sports reports Panthers GM Tom Rowe is expecting Brian Campbell to test free agency, and that he’s “not shopping” Dmitry Kulikov, despite recent reports. Rowe says trading for Yandle is the beginning of the Panthers being a contender, according to Whyno.

UPDATE: 5:00 PM CST: Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the conditional pick will be a 2017 fourth rounder if Yandle signs with the Panthers.

UPDATE 4:50 PM CST: James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail reports that the first pick will be a 6th rounder this season (174th overall), with the value of the conditional pick still unknown.

4:39 PM CST: George Richards of the Miami Herald confirms that the team will acquire his rights in exchange for a draft pick, plus a second conditional pick if he signs with them prior to July 1st.

4:31 PM CST: According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Florida Panthers are working hard to acquire the negotiating rights to Keith Yandle prior to him becoming a UFA on July 1st.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top