The Anaheim Ducks have traded defenceman Dmitry Kulikov to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Brock McGinn and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The Ducks Move Dmitry Kulikov
The Anaheim Ducks are moving veteran defenceman Dmitry Kulikov to help continue their rebuild. Kulikov, a 2009 first-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers, is in his 14th NHL season. Over that time, he has spent time with the Panthers, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and Ducks.
#Pens are sending Brock McGinn and a 3rd Rd Pick to #NHLDucks for D Dmitry Kulikov.@DailyFaceoff
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 3, 2023
Primarily a defensive defenceman, Kulikov has 213 points over his career. This includes three goals and 12 assists this season. Meanwhile, he leads the Ducks in shots blocked with 103 and is second in hits with 87. He has spent most of this season paired with Cam Fowler. Despite playing over double the minutes than all other Ducks defensive pairs, Kulikov and Fowler have the lowest xGA per 60 minutes and the second lowest goals against per 60 minutes. Kulikov will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
What This Means Moving Forward
Dmitry Kulikov can bring some stability to the defensive core. He’s not a flashy player but can be effective for shot suppression and occasionally jumping in on the rush. He is not afraid to block shots and provide a level of physicality. While he may not be quite at the same level he was previously in his career, he will provide added depth and can be relied on in his own end. His NHL tenure is also worth noting as bringing that experience is an intangible quality that provides value.
Meanwhile, the Ducks decision to move Kulikov is not too much of a surprise given their place in the standings. The Ducks are still working through their rebuild with young players like Trevor Zegras and Mason Mctavish. Anaheim will use this to keep looking forward to building for the future.
Main photo by: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
