Brett Fricken Kulak

[Caged Great]

What a find this guy is. Another 4th round pick (105th overall) like TJ Brodie (114th overall) and Johnny Gaudreau (104th overall).

Very simple composed game with few mistakes and is calm under pressure. That outlet pass to Raymond in the first was just like TJ Brodie.

It will be very difficult to remove him from the lineup once Brodie returns.

[N-E-B]

Gotta say I agree. I'd keep him over Engelland or Smid at this point.

[stemit14]

I'm impressed by the smart little plays he does to move the puck in his own zone. It's early but there's lots to like so far from him.


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[Bunk]

I like 4th round picks.

The pass off the boards to Raymond was pretty slick.

[Drury18]

Amazing progression in his development over the last year as well. He started the year in the AHL (I believe scoring Adirondack's first ever goal) but got demoted to the ECHL losing the numbers (bodies and age) game about a month later. He continued to work hard and play big minutes with the Eagles and kept getting Adirondack's attention. He was one of the top 5 defenceman in the ECHL for points. It was obvious he wasn't meant to be there.

When Culkin went down with the wrist injury, Kulak was recalled to the AHL and pretty much took over Culkin's spot seamlessly and found yet another gear becoming a stable fixture on the blue line as well as a blue line threat on the PP. As horrible as it is to say, it's possible that if Culkin doesn't get injured, Kulak may have not gotten his break in the AHL until this year. He owes Culkin.

It's great to see a kid who worked this hard be rewarded. He absolutely earned his spot, nothing was given to him. Truly hope he sticks with the team. Him and Culkin (if he can stop having these freak injuries) very well could be our top 4 with Brodie and Hamilton in a couple years.

[Caged Great]

Imagine if Kulak, Culkin, Hickey, Andersson, and Kylington hit their potential...

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Imagine if Kulak, Culkin, Hickey, Andersson, and Kylington hit their potential...

still pisses me off that Culkin has had such bad luck with injuries lately. Would have been great to have him play his first NHL game in April as well and battle for a spot now like Kulak. Based on last year, I think he's at least as far in his development as Kulak, maybe even a bit ahead. Hope he's good to go soon.

that list really looks good, the Flames have drafted really well. Not long ago, many fans thought that the prospect pool is not too strong on the blueline. Then they find a guy like Hickey in the third round in 2014, trade their best picks in 2015 and still draft both Andersson and Kylington. Impressive stuff.

[Benched]

So far I like the kid. He looks like a seasoned defender, not a rookie.


And that's a huge compliment.

[joejoe3]

Erixson be like

[Moneyhands23]

I really hope he continues to build on his solid play. I would love to see him as our number 5 guy paired with either Wideman or Russell. I think Englland and Smid are great guys to have in the press box!

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Brodie and Kulak NEED to be a pairing when he's healthy. It's imperative. They just have to.

Kulak's strength along the boards is something else. He even worked the puck away from a Sedin at one point which isn't easy.

He's had this in him for years. I'm just happy he's got the opportunity to showcase it now.

[SeanCharles]

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Kulak-Wideman

- Gio and Brodie are a great pairing
- Hamilton gets to be split from Gio as the two of them play a similar game
- Kulak already plays well covering for Engelland so he should thrive with a better partner

[1Nite]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Kulak-Wideman

- Gio and Brodie are a great pairing
- Hamilton gets to be split from Gio as the two of them play a similar game
- Kulak already plays well covering for Engelland so he should thrive with a better partner

I think he was comfortable playing there, as he was a Giant., didn't see flash, just steady, Hartley seems okay with playing him more than 2 minutes a game, not like some other rookie defense man. I think your pairings would be great, but how does the team sit over six million in the press box? Something would have to give, but depth>injuries.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Imagine if Kulak, Culkin, Hickey, Andersson, and Kylington hit their potential...

Brodie-Hamilton plus any four of that group (assuming they pan out well) would make our D-corps score in bunches for the next decade.

[Da_Chief]

After the first 2 games I'm really disliking Russell and Wideman. Amount of times they were pinned in their own zone was very frustrating against a mediocre team.

Can't wait to see Brodie back so he can stabilize the 2nd pair. Oh and hopefully Kulak keeps gaining confidence, playing with a better partner will only help him.

By years end, I'm hoping its Gio-Brodie, Kulak-Hamilton running the top 4.

Side note, the amount of love Ben Hutton was getting was crazy, no mention of Kulak. Hutton is a good and improving prospect but wouldn't mind some love for Kulak amongst Flames Giants on D.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

After the first 2 games I'm really disliking Russell and Wideman. Amount of times they were pinned in their own zone was very frustrating against a mediocre team.

Can't wait to see Brodie back so he can stabilize the 2nd pair. Oh and hopefully Kulak keeps gaining confidence, playing with a better partner will only help him.

By years end, I'm hoping its Gio-Brodie, Kulak-Hamilton running the top 4.

Side note, the amount of love Ben Hutton was getting was crazy, no mention of Kulak. Hutton is a good and improving prospect but wouldn't mind some love for Kulak amongst Flames Giants on D.

That's no different at all from last year. The only difference is they somehow managed to outscore the opponent.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Side note, the amount of love Ben Hutton was getting was crazy, no mention of Kulak. Hutton is a good and improving prospect but wouldn't mind some love for Kulak amongst Flames Giants on D.

Not surprising. The Flames rarely get any love when they're playing any other Canadian team on a national broadcast. The national media has always had a bias against the Flames - I have heard that it's because they're the only Canadian team who doesn't leak information, and that actually shelters their players from the media. The result is that the broadcasts are always from the other team's perspective, like it's their regional broadcast.

[Street Pharmacist]

Or, if you visit the Canucks fans forum you'll see they feel it was a Flames love in and the Canucks get no love.

There's no bias, no conspiracy here. They get equal love and only the bias on here makes it seem otherwise

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Or, if you visit the Canucks fans forum you'll see they feel it was a Flames love in and the Canucks get no love.

There's no bias, no conspiracy here. They get equal love and only the bias on here makes it seem otherwise

I'm sure there's some truth to what you're saying, but fundamentally I disagree. It's not just this year or last year, it is a long standing bias across multiple broadcasters. I read something about an inside source saying as much a few years ago - I'll see if I can find it.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Or, if you visit the Canucks fans forum you'll see they feel it was a Flames love in and the Canucks get no love.

There's no bias, no conspiracy here. They get equal love and only the bias on here makes it seem otherwise

In the context of your post i would agree in general, except when it comes to Hughson and the Canucks, fanboi extraorginaire.