Sabres acquire Dmitry Kulikov for Mark Pysyk

[bob_sauve28]

Also. They had very little to say on Asplund besides stats and measurables.I think McCabe could push for 1st pairing

yes on McCabe, he is a good one

[Randall Flagg]

I think McCabe could push for 1st pairing

He could, sure, but I don't think we're in very good shape if that's how it shakes out.

[TrueBlueGED]

I just do not get the McCabe love. Do not. Even if we want to dismiss the inconsistency as a product of youth, he doesn't have a single standout skill--he's just okay at a bunch of stuff.

[Norcal]

He could, sure, but I don't think we're in very good shape if that's how it shakes out.

i'd like to think that puts us in great shape. We have a top pair, know who to protect and still have prospects growin on the farm for future years

I just do not get the McCabe love. Do not. Even if we want to dismiss the inconsistency as a product of youth, he doesn't have a single standout skill--he's just okay at a bunch of stuff.

I think he's progressed consistently since he's been in the league, is a natural leader and hasn't come close to his ceiling IMO

[LGR4GM]

Murray does it again. He overpays consistently in trades. He has traded away numerous #1 draft picks and to this point has very little to show for it. Kulikov is essentially a one year rental for Pysyk? I don't get it.

So you wouldn't trade Pysyk and #89 for Kulikov?

[SarasotaSabre]

I'm not sure if I really like this trade. Pysyk is solid d-man and I think we got taken on this deal.

Not quite solid physically and a bit soft. Intelligent and a good puck mover, yes....

Edited June 25, 2016 by BuffaninATL

[Hoss]

Kulikov does everything Pysyk does but has a better shot, fights and hits. So... Yea, pretty easy win here.

[TrueBlueGED]

Kulikov does everything Pysyk does but has a better shot, fights and hits. So... Yea, pretty easy win here.

 

Except for driving even strength puck possession ;)

[Hoss]

Joe Yerdon @JoeYerdon

Panthers GM Tom Rowe said he targeted Mark Pysyk for a long time and has been watching him for a couple years now.

 

Should also note - Tim Murray said the first conversation he had with Dale Tallon about Dmitry Kulikov took place when he was in Ottawa.

[Weave]

Murray on Pysyk:

 

“You have to trade away a good player, and Mark is a very good player. Mark is kind of an analytics darling, and we know that. So we knew there’d be a little pushback on that.”

[PotentPowerPlay22]

Just because you don't understand doesn't make it wrong.  Bylsma said they've been watching a lot of film on Kulikov the last 3 weeks.  You'll have to forgive me that I'll side with their assessment of him.

Believe whatever you want, but I don't like the trade. You can have your own opinion based on what you heard or read elsewhere. I'd rather rely on my own two eyes and I prefer Pysyk. 

[7+6=13]

Murray on Pysyk:

 

“You have to trade away a good player, and Mark is a very good player. Mark is kind of an analytics darling, and we know that. So we knew there’d be a little pushback on that.”

 

What an awesome statement.  If nothing else - he's entertaining.

[ExWNYer]

Murray on Pysyk:

 

“You have to trade away a good player, and Mark is a very good player. Mark is kind of an analytics darling, and we know that. So we knew there’d be a little pushback on that.”

 

Explains why Matthew Coller was whining about the trade non-stop. You'd have thought that they traded his life-long best friend.

[Hoss]

In the category of "nobody else really cares," what number will he wear?

 

7 is retired. He wore 29 in the CHL (McCabe). He wore 43 as a rookie (yuck). 17 is available.

 

We've got some "good numbers" available: 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25.

[Norcal]

He'll wear 6 i bet

[bob_sauve28]

If he signs with us we win the trade. If he walks we lose it

[7+6=13]

Believe whatever you want, but I don't like the trade. You can have your own opinion based on what you heard or read elsewhere. I'd rather rely on my own two eyes and I prefer Pysyk. 

 

I understand and you're of course perfectly within your right as well. I think if we both admit it we don't know Kulikov's play on a game by game basis - so we read.  The Sabres see him doing some things they feel the team needs along with being LH.  I'm sure we'll miss Psyk's 11 points next year but don't you think it's wise to let Murray decide which is the better fit?

Edited June 25, 2016 by 7+6=13

[Stoner]

What an awesome statement.  If nothing else - he's entertaining.

Blue is the little pushback. (Show us your hands.) The use of "darling" holds analytics in a measure of contempt, so of course I approve heartily of this message.

Edited June 25, 2016 by PASabreFan

[TrueBlueGED]

Blue is the little pushback. (Show us your hands.) The use of "darling" holds analytics in a measure of contempt, so of course I approve heartily of this message.

But he also used a bunch of blue collar lunchpail language, which you hate.

[Stoner]

But he also used a bunch of blue collar lunchpail language, which you hate.

So you're admitting that you have small hands...

[TrueBlueGED]

So you're admitting that you have small hands...

Do you mean a con man, or that other thing....

 

Yes.

[inkman]

Victory favors the bold. This was bold.

[JJFIVEOH]

This was Kuli's best year. In the past he had a tendency to take penalties and make bad plays at inopportune times. He has minimized these significantly in the past year. As has been mentioned, Kuli will go out of his way to make plays instead of sitting back, and he has learned when to make these plays. It was his downfall for the first couple of years. He is not a fighter. He also isn't a huge hitter, if I had to guess without looking up stats, he's probably half the hitter Foligno, Kane and Nickie D are. But he doesn't go out of his way to shy away from hits and he won't hesitate to stick up for a teammate. 

 

Take his point totals for what it's worth. He's played on some pretty bad power play teams. I don't think he will turn out to be a huge point scorer, but he is perfectly capable of handling the puck and playing on a power play unit. I think if he's given a chance to be a number #1 D pairing and/or a #1 PP pairing, he just might flourish. Before this year, I wasn't sure if he would pan out, but he improved significantly this year leading me to believe he might improve even more. Kuli's gone through some serious roster and management changes over the years, there aren't too many players in the league that have seen so many coaches and teammates as him. Would be nice to see him re-sign at the end of the year and see how he can play with some stability. 

 

I've gotten the impression that Pysyk has hit his ceiling. Which isn't a bad thing. He's an ideal top 4 D-man with great possession numbers and he's one of the smartest players on the ice. He does what a D-man is supposed to do, defend. 

 

This trade is apples vs. oranges. Two totally different players. I really don't see a reason to pick a winner in the trade, it was just two teams looking for something different. 

[Radar]

Believe whatever you want, but I don't like the trade. You can have your own opinion based on what you heard or read elsewhere. I'd rather rely on my own two eyes and I prefer Pysyk.

 

So are you a scout? If not I'll trust their own two eyes. No offense.

[3putt]

This was Kuli's best year. In the past he had a tendency to take penalties and make bad plays at inopportune times. He has minimized these significantly in the past year. As has been mentioned, Kuli will go out of his way to make plays instead of sitting back, and he has learned when to make these plays. It was his downfall for the first couple of years. He is not a fighter. He also isn't a huge hitter, if I had to guess without looking up stats, he's probably half the hitter Foligno, Kane and Nickie D are. But he doesn't go out of his way to shy away from hits and he won't hesitate to stick up for a teammate. 

 

Take his point totals for what it's worth. He's played on some pretty bad power play teams. I don't think he will turn out to be a huge point scorer, but he is perfectly capable of handling the puck and playing on a power play unit. I think if he's given a chance to be a number #1 D pairing and/or a #1 PP pairing, he just might flourish. Before this year, I wasn't sure if he would pan out, but he improved significantly this year leading me to believe he might improve even more. Kuli's gone through some serious roster and management changes over the years, there aren't too many players in the league that have seen so many coaches and teammates as him. Would be nice to see him re-sign at the end of the year and see how he can play with some stability. 

 

I've gotten the impression that Pysyk has hit his ceiling. Which isn't a bad thing. He's an ideal top 4 D-man with great possession numbers and he's one of the smartest players on the ice. He does what a D-man is supposed to do, defend. 

 

This trade is apples vs. oranges. Two totally different players. I really don't see a reason to pick a winner in the trade, it was just two teams looking for something different.

 

Nice analysis. Thanks for the post. Your last sentence is a great summary.