Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov signs 3-year deal to stay with Florida Panthers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Florida Panthers are keeping defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, signing him to a three-year deal on Friday.
Kulikov has spent each of his first five NHL seasons with the Panthers, with 24 goals and 75 assists in 313 games. He logged the second-most minutes for the Panthers this past season and was a regular on Florida's power-play and penalty-kill units.
Kulikov set career-bests this past season with 81 games played, eight goals and 66 penalty minutes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Panthers general manager Dale Tallon says Kulikov's ability has never been questioned, and that it's now time "for him now to make a statement and be a leader on our team."