[Signing] Arbitrator awards Kulak 1yr $900k 1 way

[Locke]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

You could have posted the pic with my good side.

Pfft! You cant even spell your own name right. Everyone knows theres two 'r's.'

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I don't know if I agree.
How do you rank Kulak? Is he a 3rd pairing defenseman for a top 15 club?
I don't think he is. Especially with his spot so vulnerable.

And if he's befit a non-playoff team's last pairing, he'll continually be challenged --- a minimum salary makes him that much more attractive. I do believe, those $200k in savings make a difference.

If the only thing that makes you of value is your willingness to work for minimum wage you’re not going to have an NHL career.

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If the only thing that makes you of value is your willingness to work for minimum wage you’re not going to have an NHL career.

That may be true, but I’m sure there are lots of guys over the last 15 years that have played a lot more games in the NHL than they would have otherwise because they were willing to take $600k, or 5, or 450 depending on the year, as opposed to a guy who maybe was marginally better, but no guarantee, who wanted twice as much.

[Cactus Jack]

Something tells me the Flames aren´t too happy with his demands. It doesn´t mean Kulak was wrong, but it is a political game and he may be elsewhere ASAP. Do you take the guaranteed money and rub the team the wrong way? Or play ball, accept a two-way and hope it gets you somewhere with the team? He will be supplanted by at least Vallamaki shortly, so there are no guarantess for Kulak. He could become an NHL mainstay elsewhere or become a career AHLer. It´s a gamble he is taking with his career. It´s not about dollars and cents, or the cap, it´s about positioning. The NHL and life are political games.