Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
Kulak played 71 games with the Flames in 2017-18 and averaged 12:59 over all 71 games.
To say he was on the verge of being Wotherspoon is ridiculous to say at the start of last season and even worse when Kulak actually made the nominal step up last year.
The guy that beat him out (on paper) for the #5 spot was Stone and Prout for the #7 spot because the Flames had no other physical d-men.
With Kulak as a Flame Andersson starts last season as #7
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He was Stone's partner for almost all of 17-18. I don't think Stone beat him out. Valimaki beat him out.
Kulak seems to be a guy who has played as well as his partner lets him. he was a horrible fit with Engelland. Much better with Stone. And he upgraded partners in Montreal. Of course, some of that might just be progression in his own play, but he was never going to get above 3rd pairing here. And with Anderson and Valimaki there, with Kylington close behind, he was dropping through the depth chart. The only real issue is whether you could get something better for him. It seems like you couldn't. And playing him in Stockton wasn't going to increase his trade value.