*Photo from the Star Tribune*
We have another one of those good old fashioned cap dumps. The Anaheim Ducks have acquired D Dmitry Kulikov from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for future considerations, according to both teams.
Michael Russo of The Athletic reported that the trade of Kulikov gives the chance for defense prospect Calen Addison to make the Wild's opening night roster. Kulikov is on the final season of a two year deal. He'll make $2.25 million this season, with no bonuses attached, and has a modified no trade clause. He'll be a UFA at the end of the year.
Last season was Kulikov's only year with the Wild. Over the season, Kulikov recorded 7 goals and 17 assists, notching a +23 plus/minus rating across an average 18:12 of ice time in 80 regular season games. He added one assist in two playoff games last season.
Kulikov has 13 seasons of NHL experience under his belt. In that time, he has 42 goals and 156 assists, averaging 19:44 of ice time per game while recording a -38 plus/minus rating in 805 regular season games. Kulikov has an additional one goal and 7 assists across 29 career playoff games.
The Ducks will mark the 7th team of Kulikov's career. He was chosen in the first round, with the 14th overall pick, by the Florida Panthers in the 2009 NHL Draft. He played 7 seasons with the Panthers before joining the Buffalo Sabres. He then played for the Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, and the Wild.
Wild GM Bill Guerin said of trading Kulikov that "This is a tough one, because he had a great year last year, played very well for us, but we need some more cap space. We felt we had maybe one too many defensemen and we don't want to put guys in a position to where they're not playing or not playing enough. This has been talked about for quite a while with Anaheim, so it just kind of came to a head today, but we wish him nothing but the best."
The trade for Kulikov is another move in what has been an offseason of change for the Ducks. Ryan Getzlaf retired, while Frank Vatrano, Ryan Strome, and John Klingberg joined the Ducks this offseason as they look to return to the playoffs.
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