Report: Kulikov and Stone could initiate bidding war

Just one day in advance of the opening of NHL free agency period, Sporstnet reporter and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman is reporting that the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets are both interested in the services of UFA defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Michael Stone

From Friedman’s latest report:

Mentioned earlier this week that both Ottawa and Winnipeg were looking at Dmitry Kulikov. I’d link both teams with Michael Stone, too, because there are “intangible” fits to both cities.

Kulikov is a particularly interesting fit for the Sens given that he played junior hockey in the QMJHL for Sens head coach Guy Boucher in 2008-09. Could the two be reunited in Canada’s capital for 2017-18?

As for Stone, the Winnipeg native will hit the market after being traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Calgary Flames at last season’s NHL Trade Deadline, but failed to re-up with the Flames as a result of the Travis Hamonic acquisition. He’s a good defender and could add some really value to the blue line in Ottawa or Winnipeg.