The 30-year-old defenseman had four assists in 48 games for the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils last season, including two assists in 10 games after he was traded to Edmonton on April 12. He did not have a point in three Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Selected by the Florida Panthers in the first round (No. 14) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Kulikov has scored 174 points (35 goals, 139 assists) in 725 games with the Oilers, Devils, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres and Panthers, and seven points (one goal, six assists) in 27 NHL playoff games.
"I felt like Minnesota would be the right fit at this stage of my career now," Kulikov said. "The team has done really well. I've seen some highlights where there's some highlight-reel goals and stuff from players. For me, it's an exciting opportunity because you're coming into a new team and you're starting from scratch and you feel like everything is new … it's exciting."
The Wild also agreed to terms with defenseman
Jon Merrill
on a one-year, $850,000 contract. Merrill had five assists and 70 blocked shots in 49 games with the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens last season. He has scored 66 points (12 goals, 54 assists) in 405 NHL games with the Red Wings, Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils.
"I'm really excited," Merrill said. "I know [the Wild have] done a lot of good things with their lineup the last couple of years and I'm ready to come in and just help out in any way I can, be a team guy. Whatever they need from me, I'll be willing to do. … couldn't be more excited to play another year in the NHL."
