3 reasons why Pittsburgh Penguins fans should be excited after trading for Dmitry Kulikov

Dmitry Kulikov will now play for the Pittsburgh Penguin. In a move where Ron Hextall was desperate to make an upgrade on defense, the Penguins traded the Anaheim Ducks defender for a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft and Brock McGinn, who the Penguins had recently put on waivers.

The move isn't a massive upgrade for the Penguins, but it should help if they deploy Kulikov the right way.

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Why Penguins fans should be excited for Dmitry Kulikov?

Here are three reasons:

#1 Playoff Experience

Dmitry Kulikov has a wealth of playoff experience, having played in 45 postseason games. This type of experience is invaluable, particularly for a team like the Penguins looking to make a deep playoff run this year.

Kulikov has been on some very good teams in the past, including the 2015-16 Florida Panthers team that won the Atlantic Division, and made the second round of the playoffs.

He also played for the Winnipeg Jets in 2018-19, a team that made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Kulikov's ability to play well in high-pressure situations will be a huge asset to the Penguins as they look to make a deep playoff run.

#2 Defensive Depth

The Penguins have been struggling with injuries on the blue line all season and needed another body on the blue line.

That has left the Penguins with a lack of depth on defense, which has hurt them at times this season. The addition of Dmitry Kulikov gives the Penguins another reliable defenseman who can eat up minutes and play in all situations.

While he may not be the flashiest player, Dmitry Kulikov is a solid defenseman who can play a physical game and make smart plays with the puck. His addition gives the Penguins more flexibility on defense, which will be crucial as they look to make a deep playoff run.

#3 Low Cost

Perhaps the most exciting part of the trade for Penguins fans is that they were able to acquire Dmitry Kulikov for a relatively low cost.

The Penguins only had to give up a third-round pick in a year and a player that they had already tried to get rid of to acquire Kulikov, a very low price to pay for a player with Kulikov's experience and skill set. That means the Penguins could improve their team without sacrificing any key pieces of their roster.

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The addition of Dmitry Kulikov is a move that should have Penguins fans excited about their team's chances for the rest of the season.

His playoff experience, defensive depth and low cost make him a valuable addition to the Penguins' roster. While he may not be the flashiest player, Kulikov is a solid defenseman who can play a key role for the Penguins as they look to make a deep playoff run.