The deal was announced three picks into the second round of the draft on Saturday.
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The Panthers received Mark Pysyk and picks 38 – used on LW Adam Mascherin, a prolific scorer with Kitchener in the OHL – and 89 in the draft. Leading up to the draft, Tim Murray expressed the Sabres’ need for a left-shot defenseman and got it in Kulikov. Considered one of Buffalo’s better defensive prospects, the former 23rd overall pick – taken in 2010 – has dealt with injuries over the last few seasons that have prevented him from getting a full look at the National Hockey League level. In 37 career games, the 2013 first-round pick has two goals and 10 assists. He came into his own previous year as he cut down on his turnovers and finished with a career-best plus-8 to go with one goal and 16 assists in 74 games.
With the 33rd pick, Buffalo selected Swedish-born center Rasmus Asplund, who has ties to the Sabres’ first-round pick, Alexander Nylander.
For the Panthers, the team acquires a player in Pysyk who is has a $1.125M cap hit and becomes a Restricted Free Agent after this season. The 25-year-old was entering the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
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Asplund says he will play one more year in Sweden before making his decision on coming over to North America.
