Dmitri Kulikov will be out of the Jets’ lineup long-term

You won't be seeing him on the ice any time before Christmas

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Dmitri Kulikov will be out of the Jets’ lineup long-term
Justin Cooper/CSM via ZUMA Wire

Tough news for blueliner Dmitry Kulikov of Winnipeg Jets. Head coach Paul Maurice told media today the 29-year-old will be out of the lineup until at least the All-Star break, near the end of January.


Kulikov left Friday’s game against Anaheim in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return. He also sat out Saturday’s game against the L.A. Kings. The club had asked people to be patient as they would have an update on his status today.

Winnipeg has had a tough time keeping defenseman healthy this season. Neal Pionk, brought over from the New York Rangers in the offseason, is the only D-man who has played every game of 2019-20 so far for the Jets. Nathan Beaulieu is currently on injured reserve with a hand injury. He had missed all of October after being injured in the final game of the preseason, and was put on IR again after returning for just nine games. And then there’s Dustin Byfuglien. No one really needs a recap of the Byfuglien situation at this point. 

Kulikov is in the third year of a three-year contract with Winnipeg worth close to $13 million dollars ($4.33 AAV). In 25 games this season he has four points (one goal and three assists), with 18 PIM. Kulikov is more of a physical presence than anything else, as he played 57 games last season without scoring a goal. The previous year, he had three in 62 games. Missing a good portion of the final season of your current contract before you hit the market as an unrestricted free agent is not something any players wishes to go through, but that is the reality Kulikov is facing.

Source: Twitter