Since being traded to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline in exchange for William Lagesson and a draft pick, Brett Kulak has been nothing short of phenomenal. Advanced stats will show he’s been our best player on the back end since he joined us, and has fit right in to the place he seemingly loves playing for.
With 4 points and 6 PIMS since joining the Oilers, the Alberta born 28 year old is in his element. He is not solely an offensive defensemen but can provide opportunities where he needs too, and is nothing short of amazing in his own zone, and when it comes to the transition through the middle.
Brett Kulak has been a dominant standout everywhere he plays. Whether it was with the Vancouver Giants in his junior career, or with any of the NHL teams he has gone too. Kulak has already brought a mixture of physicality and two way hockey, and he seems to be the perfect fit for the Oilers. He is described as someone who thrives with an offensive d partner because he is willing to adapt to a stay at home role, but is so good with his transitions that he almost makes any partner better.
Contract
Kulak currently has a $925K cap hit, and he will be in for a decent raise. I can’t see him being worth as much as Tyson Barrie, not after his first season with the team at least, but he could be anywhere between a $1.5-$2.5M AAV D man, with a bridge term deal of 2-3 years.
The Oilers definitely have an advantage when it comes to bringing him back, as he is an Alberta boy, who grew up near Edmonton where his whole family can now come watch him play whenever they want.
Next Season
Truthfully, I don’t expect Duncan Keith to retire and I don’t expect Tyson Barrie is going anywhere. With that being said, these are my ideal pairings for next season:
Nurse-Bouchard
Kulak-Barrie
Keith-Ceci
Kulak needs to be re-signed. He’s a younger player that wants to play for the Oilers, and is almost a perfect player when it comes to his own end. You’re not going to be able to find anyone that skilled for that price that wants to play for the Oilers.