[Trade] Kulak to the Habs for Rinat Valiev and Matt Taormina

[Badgers Nose]

Pretty classy, Kulak ends up higher in another team's depth chart. I like!

[Benched]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

ugg Steinberg talking about losing waiver priority by claiming a player...

*Facepalm*

Goalie incoming?

[flamesfan1297]

Good luck to Kulak. He should have a good opportunity in Montreal

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Benched

Goalie incoming?

No.

Steinberg was responding to a question about why the Habs just didn't claim Kulak off waivers.

One of his reasons were the Habs would lose waiver priority if they claim a player off waivers.

This is not true.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Benched

Goalie incoming?

Not sure if serious, but I will bite... Teams no longer lose waiver priority by claiming a player, as of 2016 I believe. Steinberg said that one consideration in trading for Kulak instead of claiming him off of waivers has been losing Montreal's waiver priority.

Edit: ^ what sureLoss said

[sureLoss]

Kristen Anderson
@KdotAnderson

Kulak on the trade/situation in Calgary/numbers game: “Valimaki came in and I thought he played in really well and that’s what they’re going with. Me and Brad talked about that and I understand that...

Kristen Anderson
@KdotAnderson
...He was really good to me and he doesn’t want me to sit and not play hockey. He knows I’m an NHL defenceman wants me to get a good opportunity to play and prove myself more and keep developing as a player.”

[Caged Great]

I remember watching a bit of Valiev. Some potential there to be an NHL player, but mostly just as a filler guy. More or less Kulak = Valiev. Frankly Prout > Kulak so it's not like it's a loss.

All of these guys are filler players that are mostly for depth purposes. The Flames could have signed a try out guy or two, instead they get these two guys. Meh all around.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Good on Brad for giving him an opportunity elsewhere. This actually kind of stings on a personal level for me. I liked Kulak and we developed him all the way. Best of luck to him.

[Yamer]

Kulak handled that very well. Good luck, Brett.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Yeah, they did Kulak a solid and cleared the road for our prospects a bit but its too bad the Flames couldn't get, say, Montreal's 6th in 2019 instead.

What? Why would Montreal trade an asset for a player they could have got for 100 bucks through a waiver claim?

Matt Taormina is negative value. Not much, but some. An AHL player making $350,000. They traded him for another negative value player in Kulak. A player that no team would take for free. The Canadiens believe that Kulak is a better player and has a better chance of making their NHL team so the difference in salary makes sense. Similar for the Flames.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

What? Why would Montreal trade an asset for a player they could have got for 100 bucks through a waiver claim?

Matt Taormina is negative value. Not much, but some. An AHL player making NHL money at $650,000. They traded him for another negative value player in Kulak. A player that no team would take for free. The Canadiens believe that Kulak is a better player and has a better chance of making their NHL team so the difference in salary makes sense. Similar for the Flames.

Because it would be a 6th

[Oling_Roachinen]

What? Kulak has cleared waivers twice in a couple months. It's about time people start seeing him for what he is. No he, at least in part due to his contract, has no value. You could not get a pick for him...

[SeanCharles]

Stockton is loaded with LHed dmen.

Kylington
Healey
Hogstrom
Taormina
Valiev
AOM

Meanwhile the bottom 4 group in Calgary has 3 RH shots..

Wonder if something is going to give to change this situation?

[ricardodw]

A move that had to be made... Laval Rocket signed Ryan Culkin in the off season

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

No.

Steinberg was responding to a question about why the Habs just didn't claim Kulak off waivers.

One of his reasons were the Habs would lose waiver priority if they claim a player off waivers.

This is not true.

Habs were at 48 contracts and adding Kulak would have made it 49 - probably too close to the 50 limit for their liking in case they need to add later.

They dump a couple of contracts to us and get the player they want. We drop a one way deal, they give us some depth at d. Not a bad outcome for a player that we could have lost for zip.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Canadiens Montréal @CanadiensMTL
The Canadiens acquire defenseman Brett Kulak from the Calgary Flames, in return for defensemen Matt Taormina and Rinat Valiev. Kulak will join the Laval Rocket.

Nice, nothing against Kulak I'm sure he is a good kid. Other prospects have surpassed him good to see the staff recognized that. Wish him the best.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Habs were at 48 contracts and adding Kulak would have made it 49 - probably too close to the 50 limit for their liking in case they need to add later.

They dump a couple of contracts to us and get the player they want. We drop a one way deal, they give us some depth at d. Not a bad outcome for a player that we could have lost for zip.

This 100%

Flames get:
Save money
fill out AHL D (especially important if they want to call up Andersson at times, not leaving the farm depleted)
See if they have anything in Valiev

Habs get:
a 6/7D with NHL experience, possible upside
shed a contract (room for a waiver claim, or more likely just flexibility to trade later)

[Scornfire]

Taormina actually has really good AHL numbers

[DoubleK]

I knew the name Vailev was familiar. He played in Cranbrook for a couple years. I seem to remember him being a decent puck handler.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I knew the name Vailev was familiar. He played in Cranbrook for a couple years. I seem to remember him being a decent puck handler.

Good enough to be a high third rounder.