George Richards, FHN Publisher
SUNRISE — In his time with the Florida Panthers, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov missed time with some injuries but nothing like what he has dealt with since. Now on his fifth team since being traded in 2016, Kulikov and the Minnesota Wild hope those days are behind him.
Since Florida traded Kulikov to Buffalo during its roster and front office shakeup in 2016, he has been beset with various injuries — including back surgery related to a hit he took while with the Sabres.
After playing in 460 games with the Panthers over seven seasons (one of which was a lockout shortened one), he has played in 281 in the six since.
”There have been a couple of tough years,” Kulikov said before Saturday’s game between the Panthers and Wild in Sunrise.
“I had some injuries but all of that is in the past. I am happy where I am at right now, where I am at this point in my career. We have a great team. Everyone has a role on this team and are counted on and accountable. It’s a good feeling.”
For Kulikov, the past couple of years have been a return to normal even as his address has changed a few times.
Last season, Kulikov signed with New Jersey as a free agent, playing in 38 games before being traded to the Oilers at the deadline.
There were rumors the Panthers had interest in bringing him back.
This offseason, Kulikov signed a two-year deal with the Wild worth $4.5 million.
Saturday night against the Panthers, Kulikov played in his 16th game this season as Florida won 5-4.
He was also in the lineup for Sunday’s shootout loss to the Lightning.
“I didn’t, honestly, think about where I was. I was just focused on hockey and putting my best on the ice and it worked out for me,” Kulikov said.
“I spent a lot of good years here. … I got to play against grown men, first off, in the best league in the world. That builds up your confidence and what it takes to win in this league. The first couple of years here, we didn’t have some good years and then we got some good players and the confident built. We felt we could win in this league.
“For myself, you kind of learn how to play the game the right way. Having some bad years and then some good years showed me how hard it is to win in this league.
Kulikov, who recently turned 31, was Florida’s top draft pick in 2009. The Panthers took Kulikov with the 14th overall pick as he dropped to them with some questions surrounding his contractual status in Russia.
He came to training camp with the Panthers as an 18-year-old ready to fight for a spot on the team.
And that is exactly what he got.
Florida was able to sign Kulikov just before the season started, his agent wiring money into the Lokomotiv bank account for Kulikov’s already negotiated buyout thereby freeing him to join the Panthers.
This all happened while the team was in Helsinki preparing for its start to the 2009-10 season with a pair of games against the Chicago Blackhawks.
In someways it does not seem that long ago — and at other ways it certainly does.
There are very few members of the Panthers who remain from when Kulikov was last here in 2016 much less when he was drafted.
Randy Sexton, Florida’s interim general manager who drafted Kulikov, was promoted to the full-time job only to be replaced in 2010 by Dale Tallon after he was demoted by the Blackhawks.
Sexton is now an assistant GM with the Wild and was at Saturday’s game in Sunrise. He said it was great to be reunited all these years later with Kulikov.
“It doesn’t feel that long but, yeah, I guess it was,” Kulikov said. “The time goes by fast for sure.”
Florida traded Kulikov to Buffalo following the successful 2016 season which ended with a first-round playoff exit to the Islanders.
The Panthers changed up their front office and re-tooled their defense.
Erik Gudbranson was the first to be traded, with Kulikov being traded for Mark Pysyk and an exchange of draft picks. Florida also lost Brian Campbell to Chicago that offseason with Willie Mitchell retiring.
“I had heard some rumors but was really surprised because I hadn’t heard that Buffalo was one of the teams that wanted me,’’ Kulikov said that summer.
“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.”