[News] Kulak arb numbers. Kulak asking for $1.15M. Flames countering with 2 way $650k

[sureLoss]

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Arbitration for Monday: Kulak (CAL) — player ask is $1.15M. Team offer is a two-way w/$650K at NHL level.


Remember the player's number might be inflated and the team's offer might be lowball.

Median point is $900k, which is usually the outcome in NHL arbitration.

edit: also assuming Kulak is asking for 1 way.

Also of note Flames offer is league minimum at NHL level

[AC]

Kulak sub $1M would be good. I was expecting $1M for him going in.

I really like him, but realistically can't see a long term spot on this team as Andersson, Valimaki, and Kylington all push in the next little while.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

The team's offer is definitely a brutal low-ball offer. League minimum and a two-way deal for a guy who cemented his spot in the top 6? That's pretty brutal. I'd be holding out if I was Kulak too.

I know it's just business, but I'm kinda pulling for Kulak to get at least $1 million.

[Toonage]

So if it comes in at 900k and they can bury him at the start of the season, do they?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Toonage

So if it comes in at 900k and they can bury him at the start of the season, do they?

Why would they? He's had a lot of NHL experience now and is the odds on favorite for the #6 spot, at worst, he would be the #7 if someone like Valimaki stole a job in camp. I don't see a scenario where Kulak would have to go down to Stockton to start the year.

[ThaBrink]

Originally Posted by Toonage

So if it comes in at 900k and they can bury him at the start of the season, do they?

If andersson or valimaki outplay him yee

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Why would they? He's had a lot of NHL experience now and is the odds on favorite for the #6 spot, at worst, he would be the #7 if someone like Valimaki stole a job in camp. I don't see a scenario where Kulak would have to go down to Stockton to start the year.

Just not sure the team likes him as much as some fans do. Prout is likely up all year as #7 at 800k and maybe they like the idea of Valimaki at 900k if that's what you'll be paying a #5 anyway.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

The team's offer is definitely a brutal low-ball offer. League minimum and a two-way deal for a guy who cemented his spot in the top 6? That's pretty brutal. I'd be holding out if I was Kulak too.

I know it's just business, but I'm kinda pulling for Kulak to get at least $1 million.

Just to be clear, $650k is not necessarily what the Flames are actually offering him in contract negotiations.

What the team is asking the arbitrator, could just be to lower the arbitration award.

Past contract negotiations are not admissible in salary arbitration

[Gallick]

That's a pretty lowball offer, but ~$1m or less is the kind of money you should be paying to a 6th defenseman. I'm a fan of Kulak, but I don't know if he's shown any top-four potential and we have a lot of guys who will be fighting for his spot.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Just not sure the team likes him as much as some fans do. Prout is likely up all year as #7 at 800k and maybe they like the idea of Valimaki at 900k if that's what you'll be paying a #5 anyway.

But Kulak is a significantly better player than Prout. I don't see Prout unseating Kulak. He's a call up when the team needs some toughness if a prospect makes the team out of camp. I'd be shocked if anyone other than Andersson made the team though. The organization's philosophy probably outweighs how they view Kulak, and they always favor letting prospects develop in the minors rather than throwing them into the NHL.

[GioforPM]

If the midpoint is $900k and that's seen here as pretty fair then the team's lowball is no more out of line than Kulak's high demand.

I'd argue the midpoint is a tad on the high side.

[btimbit]

Under a mil would be fine

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I'd say the 900k is on the low end of fair while Kulak's asking is on the high end.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I am sure that Kulak will probably sign just south of 1 million, and that it will be a one-way deal.



I think the two-way is a bit moot - I think Kulak would get claimed off waivers if the Flames waived him later on in the season. Young, cheap NHL defencemen are easy waiver wire pickups to add depth. Nobody was going to touch Kulak right now with the arbitration hearing looming, and without knowing what the ask was from him.


925K one-way is my guess.

[neo45]

Don’t think he is worth much more than minimum.

He “cemented” the number 6 spot in the same way Bartkowski cemented it the season prior. Played poorly there and now the spot is up for grabs.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by neo45

Don’t think he is worth much more than minimum.

He “cemented” the number 6 spot in the same way Bartkowski cemented it the season prior. Played poorly there and now the spot is up for grabs.

You thought he played poorly? Please explain.

[getbak]

I'm guessing they'll settle before the hearing on a two-year deal: $850,000 for the first year, $950,000 for the second: $900,000 cap hit. One-way both years.

[foofighter15]

IMO Kulak was the better half of the 3rd D pairing. Give him his money.

[GioforPM]

Any word on what the AHL salary is in the Flames offer?

[RichKlit]

Kulak is an easily replaceable player, he is receiving a little to much love due to the fact he’s home grown. It’s normal and perfectly fine as long as it’s realized he’s not a game changer, he is what he is, a 6-7 dman with little upside.