Kulikov, who signed a one-year deal with Florida, was originally drafted by the Panthers 14th overall in 2009
To say Dmitry Kulikov is happy to be back with the Florida Panthers would be an understatement.
The 14-year veteran who played his first seven seasons in South Florida signed a new, one-year deal with the Cats on July 1.
"I made it a point that I wanted to come back to the Panthers and be a part of this team," he said Monday after reading to about 50 children at the South Regional Library in Pembroke Pines as part of the Panthers Summer Reading Tour.
Kulikov was drafted 14th overall by the Panthers all the way back in 2009.
He was actually with the team for two different playoff appearances, once in the surprising year of 2012 and again four years later when the team was led by veterans Jaromir Jagr and Roberto Luongo.
At the time, it felt amazing. Those were the Panthers first two playoff series' since the year 2000.
Just as things seemed to be turning in a positive direction for the only franchise he knew, Kulikov was traded.
He was shipped to Buffalo that summer for Mark Pysyk.
At the time, Kulikov was Florida's longest tenured player.
Now he's back, and the team he's joining is a legitimate contender.
"It just feels like it was some unfinished business," Kulikov said of his return. "I'm excited for the opportunity to come back and contribute to the success that the team has had in the last six years that I haven't been here."
Even while he's played elsewhere, Kulikov never completely left South Florida.
He kept his home down here and came back every summer to train at the Panthers practice rink in Coral Springs.
Since signing last month, Kulikov said he's also visited FLA Live Arena, which brought a bit of a 'welcome home' feeling.
"That place hasn't changed," he said. "It felt good, felt like I was coming home."
Kulikov has been in touch with his former Panthers teammates, Aaron Ekblad and Sasha Barkov, who were both with the team in 2016 when Kulikov last played for Florida.
"They were very excited when they heard the news," he said. "They're excited and I'm excited, too."
That won't be the only reunion happening in Sunrise.
Kulikov will also be reuniting with a former head coach, one he grew fond of while playing north of the border.
He spent three years playing under current Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice in Winnipeg, from 2017 to 2020, and Kulikov was one of the people Maurice spoke to last summer when he was first hired by Florida.
"I like the idea that he's the coach here too, because I really like his style and him as a person in Winnipeg," Kulikov said, adding, "It all kind of seems put together."
As far as he's concerned, Kulikov would like his return to South Florida to last more than the one season he's currently signed up for.
The veteran rearguard will be 33 years old in October. He's entering his 15th season in the NHL and has racked up 214 points over 872 games.
However many years Kulikov would like to play before hanging up his skates, he'd like them to be with the team that drafted him.
"Definitely, I would love to stay here for as long as I can," he said. "It felt right to be here on this team, representing the Panthers for this upcoming season and hopefully seasons to come."