Panthers’ Kulikov offered an in-person hearing for hit on Seguin

By Dhiren MahibanFeb 14, 2015, 2:00 PM EDT
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Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has been offered an in-person hearing for his hit on Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin Friday night.

Kulikov was assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct for clipping on the play.

Since the 24-year-old has been offered an in-person hearing his suspension can exceed five games.

“It’s a dirty shot. It’s just something that ends up taking your best player out of the game,” said Stars coach Lindy Ruff postgame. “Not only out of the game, it is taking him out of the lineup for a little while for us.

“(We will) just let the league deal with it. I used to yell and scream about it but that doesn’t do any good. It’s just a shot that didn’t need to happen.”

The Stars announced Saturday that Seguin has been placed in injured reserve with a lower body injury.

According to Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News, Seguin suffered a knee injury and could miss 2-4 weeks.

In anticipation of Kulikov’s suspension the Panthers are expected to recall defenseman Shane O’Brien from the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage.

Kulikov has not been suspended previously.

‘I try to forget Calgary,’ says Panthers’ O’Brien on facing the Flames

By Cam TuckerJan 9, 2015, 8:54 PM EDT
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After getting sent down to the minors during the 2013-14 season and bought out in the summer, Shane O’Brien isn’t speaking too favorably about his time with the Calgary Flames.

According to George Richards of the Miami Herald, O’Brien, who has struggled to maintain a regular spot in the NHL the last few years, will be in the lineup Friday when the Panthers take on the Flames.

“I try to forget Calgary,” O’Brien, the 31-year-old defenseman, told the Sun Sentinel. “But there’s good guys in that locker room, too. … The hockey world is small. Any time you go to a new team I’ve been lucky to play with good guys that embrace me right away in training camp. I felt part of [this] team right away.

“Obviously, the back end has been healthy and that’s good for them, not too good for me, but it is what it is. … It’s an opportunity they’re given me right now and I’ll do the best I can.”

O’Brien has played three games for the Panthers since getting recalled from AHL San Antonio. He has one assist.

Panthers recall defenseman Shane O’Brien

By Dhiren MahibanDec 11, 2014, 6:51 PM EDT
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The Florida Panthers recalled defenseman Shane O’Brien on Thursday the club announced.

The 31-year-old has five goals and 13 points in 19 games this season with the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage.

O’Brien has been recalled because of concerns surrounding the health of rookie defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

The 18-year-old missed practice Thursday due to soreness.

O’Brien has yet to appear in an NHL game with the Panthers season. Florida invited O’Brien to camp on a tryout and signed him to a one-year, $650,000 contract on Oct. 6.

He last appeared in an NHL game with the Calgary Flames in January.

Florida continues its’ three-game road trip Friday night in Detroit.

Report: Panthers, O’Brien talking contract

By Dhiren MahibanOct 4, 2014, 9:00 PM EDT

The Florida Panthers and free agent defenseman Shane O’Brien are in the midst of contract talks according to ESPN’s Katie Strang.

Strang reports that Panthers GM Dale Tallon had discussions with the agent representing O’Brien on Saturday and expects talks to continue Sunday.

O’Brien, 31, was invited to Panthers’ camp on a professional tryout and survived the team’s latest cuts on Friday.

“I feel like I’m part of the team already,” O’Brien told the Florida Sun Sentinel. “So it’d be disappointing if I wasn’t here.”

Originally an eighth-round selection of the Anaheim Ducks in 2003, O’Brien was sent to the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League last season by the Calgary Flames.

In 528 career NHL games with the Ducks, Lightning, Canucks, Predators, Avalanche and Flames, O’Brien has 13 goals and 91 points.

O’Brien, who saw his three-year $6 million contract expire in July, didn’t sound too excited at the idea of signing a tw0-way contract.

“I still feel like I’m an NHL player,” said O’Brien. “I feel like I’ve had a good enough camp to be here. I’m a good team guy and fit into the chemistry of this room well. I take pride in playing hard every night and I think I’ve proven that, and will continue to prove that.”

The blue liner could be a consolation prize for the Panthers, who were reportedly in talks to acquire Nick Leddy from the Chicago Blackhawks and Johnny Boychuk from the Boston Bruins. Both Boychuk and Leddy were dealt to the New York Islanders on Saturday.

O’Brien has had issues follow him around the NHL. He had weight issues in Vancouver and wasn’t buying what the Flames were selling in Calgary.

Not sure how many chances the Ontario native has left, but Florida could be his new home soon.

‘We work hard and we have buy-in,’ says Burke after sending O’Brien to AHL

By Jason BroughJan 27, 2014, 12:57 PM EDT
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The Calgary Flames sent veteran defenseman Shane O’Brien to AHL Abbotsford this weekend, and based on general manager Brian Burke’s comments, it’s not hard to figure why.

“There are two important building blocks that Bob (Hartley) has put into place here,” Burke said, per the Calgary Herald. “We work hard. And that’s not just the games people see. There’s a lifestyle he’s implemented here. Practices are longer and harder than they are in most places. Weight room stuff, there’s a lot of that here and some teams don’t do as much. The video sessions, there’s a lot of teaching going on. So, he’s got buy-in from the players. We work hard and we have buy-in. Those are two critical steps if we’re going to get better.”

Given O’Brien’s reputation for, well, let’s just call it enjoying the life, Burke’s remarks came as no surprise.

It’s also worth mentioning that this isn’t the first time Burke has dispatched O’Brien from his team; in 2007, Burke traded O’Brien from the Ducks to the Lightning.