The Colorado Avalanche shook up its blueline Tuesday morning, 10 days before the 2026 trade deadline.
Colorado sent Samuel Girard, the longest-tenured member of the defense corps, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Brett Kulak. The Avs also included a 2028 second-round pick in the deal.
Kulak, 32, began the season with the Edmonton Oilers but was traded to Pittsburgh in the deal that swapped starting goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Tristan Jarry. The lefthanded defenseman had no goals and two points in 31 games for the Oilers, but had a goal and seven points in the 25 contests for the Penguins.
He is a unrestricted free agent after this season. His cap hit for this season is $2.75 million. That’s $2.25 million less than Girard, who also has another year on his contract after this one.
“In Brett, we are acquiring a two-way defenseman who can play up and down the lineup,” Avs general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement. “He logs big minutes in all situations and brings a ton of playoff experience that will help our blue line depth.”
The savings is likely why the Avs had to include the draft pick.
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