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Brett Kulak

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brett Kulak
Kulak with the Edmonton Oilers in 2025
Born (1994-01-06) January 6, 1994 (age 32)
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Colorado Avalanche
Calgary Flames
Montreal Canadiens
Edmonton Oilers
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL draft 105th overall, 2012
Calgary Flames
Playing career 2013–present

Brett Kulak (born January 6, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 105th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2012 NHL entry draft. Kulak has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing career

[edit]

Junior

[edit]

He was drafted 197th overall in the WHL Bantam Draft by the Vancouver Giants and played four seasons of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) between 2010 and 2014.[1] In 216 games with the Giants, he scored 35 goals and added 93 assists.[2] The Calgary Flames selected Kulak with their fourth round pick, 105th overall, at the 2012 NHL entry draft.[2] Following the conclusion of his WHL seasons in both 2012–13 and 2013–14, Kulak joined the Flames' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, on amateur try-out agreements; he played four and six games in each respective season.[3]

Calgary Flames

[edit]
Kulak with the Abbotsford Heat in 2014.

On March 18, 2014, the Flames signed Kulak to a three-year, entry-level contract.[4] He began the 2014–15 season with the ECHL's Colorado Eagles before earning a promotion to the AHL's Adirondack Flames. Kulak was then recalled to Calgary and made his NHL debut on April 11, 2015, in the Flames' final regular season game, a 5–1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.[5]

On October 18, 2016, against the Buffalo Sabres, Kulak recorded his first career point, assisting on Michael Frolík's first period goal. The Flames won the game 4–3.[6] Kulak finished the 2016–17 season with 3 assists in 21 games.

On August 28, 2017, the Flames re-signed Kulak (who was a restricted free agent) to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000.[7]

Montreal Canadiens

[edit]

On October 1, 2018, the Flames traded Kulak to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Matt Taormina and Rinat Valiev. Kulak was subsequently assigned to the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket.[8] On November 22, he was called up by the Canadiens after an injury to defenseman Noah Juulsen. He was immediately put into the line-up. A few games later, star defenseman Shea Weber was activated from injury reserve and the Canadiens sacrificed veteran defenseman Karl Alzner before Kulak by putting him on waivers.[9] On December 29, 2018, Kulak scored his first goal for Montreal in a 5–6 defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning.[10] He scored his first game-winning goal in a 3–0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on January 12, 2019.[11]

On May 25, 2019, the Canadiens signed Kulak to a three-year, $5.55 million contract extension with an annual average of $1.85 million.[12] Over the following seasons, Kulak typically played on the team's third pairing, notably participating in the Canadiens' deep run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals. In the final season of his contract, Kulak assumed an increasingly important role in the team's defence group, as a result of departures and injuries to other key players. With the Canadiens entering a period of team restructuring under the new management of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes there was some speculation as to whether the team would seek to re-sign Kulak or explore trading him.[13] On March 19, 2022, he played what would prove to be his final game as a Canadien, scoring a goal in a 5–1 rout of the Ottawa Senators.[14]

Edmonton Oilers

[edit]

In advance of the NHL trade deadline, Kulak was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers on March 21, 2022 in exchange for defenceman William Lagesson, a conditional second-round draft pick (Lane Hutson, 2022) and a seventh-round pick in 2024 & the Canadiens retaining 50% of Kulak's salary for the remainder of the season.[15] Kulak registered 2 goals and 6 assists in 18 regular season games with the Oilers to close out the 2021–22 season, before the team entered the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs. Kulak's contributions were well-received on the team, and he played primarily as a pair with defenceman Tyson Barrie, credited with boosting Barrie's effectiveness.[16][17] Kulak missed the morning practice the day of the pivotal Game 7 in the Oilers' first round matchup with the Los Angeles Kings, as he was attending the birth of his daughter, but was able to participate in the game itself that saw the Oilers advance to the second round against the Calgary Flames.[18][17] The Oilers reached the Western Conference Final, losing to the Colorado Avalanche in four games.[19] Following the end of the season, Kulak signed a new four-year, $11 million contract with the Oilers.[20]

Pittsburgh Penguins

[edit]

On December 12, 2025, following a middling start to the Oilers' season by the team for the third year in a row,[21][22] the Oilers traded Kulak, goaltender Stuart Skinner, and a 2029 second-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin.[23]

Colorado Avalanche

[edit]

After only two months with Pittsburgh, Kulak was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on February 24, 2026, in exchange for Sam Girard and a second-round pick in 2028.[24] He became the first player in NHL history to play at least 25 games with three different teams in a single season.[citation needed] During the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored his first playoff game-winning goal during overtime of game 5 of the Avalanche's second-round series against the Minnesota Wild.[25]

Personal life

[edit]

Kulak grew up on a farm near Stony Plain, Alberta, with his parents Gil and Laura and older brothers Tyson and Kyle, playing with the Stony Plain and Spruce Grove Minor Hockey Association.[1]

Kulak and his wife have two children.[18][26]

Career statistics

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2010–11 Vancouver Giants WHL 30000 —————
2011–12 Vancouver Giants WHL 729152428 60442
2012–13 Vancouver Giants WHL 7212324434 —————
2012–13 Abbotsford Heat AHL 40000 —————
2013–14 Vancouver Giants WHL 6914466051 41237
2013–14 Abbotsford Heat AHL 61232 40002
2014–15 Adirondack Flames AHL 26491327 —————
2014–15 Colorado Eagles ECHL 399213015 —————
2014–15 Calgary Flames NHL 10002 —————
2015–16 Calgary Flames NHL 80000 —————
2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 593141736 —————
2016–17 Calgary Flames NHL 2103312 —————
2016–17 Stockton Heat AHL 22281014 50444
2017–18 Calgary Flames NHL 7126827 —————
2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL 1938114 —————
2018–19 Montreal Canadiens NHL 576111731 —————
2019–20 Montreal Canadiens NHL 5607712 100330
2020–21 Montreal Canadiens NHL 4626820 130114
2021–22 Montreal Canadiens NHL 563101333 —————
2021–22 Edmonton Oilers NHL 1826812 1605512
2022–23 Edmonton Oilers NHL 823172041 121129
2023–24 Edmonton Oilers NHL 823131630 2517814
2024–25 Edmonton Oilers NHL 827182518 221458
2025–26 Edmonton Oilers NHL 3102210 —————
2025–26 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 2516718 —————
2025–26 Colorado Avalanche NHL 2703310 131456
NHL totals 66329108137276 1114252953

Awards and honours

[edit]
Award Year Ref
WHL
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2012 [27]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Sorokan, Keenan (December 29, 2017). "Brett Kulak and the path less travelled". The Stony Plain Reporter. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Buer, Greger, eds. (2014). 2014–15 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames. p. 117.
  3. ↑ "Brett Kulak player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Calgary Flames sign prospect Brett Kulak to entry-level contract". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, ON. March 18, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  5. ↑ Gilbertson, Wes (April 12, 2015). "Kulak no coaster". Calgary Sun. p. S2.
  6. ↑ "Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames Box Score — October 18, 2016".
  7. ↑ "Flames re-sign Brett Kulak to one-year, two-way deal". Sportsnet.ca. August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Canadiens acquire defenseman Brett Kulak from Calgary". NHL.com. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Canadiens recall defenseman Brett Kulak". November 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ Hickey, Pat (December 30, 2018). "Canadiens hang tight with potent Lightning, but drop 6–5 decision". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  11. ↑ Hickey, Pat (January 13, 2019). "Canadiens pour it on in the third to post 3–0 win over Avalanche". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Three-year contract for defenseman Brett Kulak". Montreal Canadiens. May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  13. ↑ Engels, Eric (March 6, 2022). "Understated Kulak making case for new contract with Canadiens". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  14. ↑ Hickey, Pat (March 19, 2022). "Canadiens uncork offence and Allen holds fort in solid win against Senators". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Oilers add defenceman Brett Kulak in trade with Canadiens". Sportsnet. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  16. ↑ Mitchell, Allan (April 21, 2022). "Should Oilers re-sign Brett Kulak based on early results?". The Athletic. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Luszczyszyn, Dom; Goldman, Shayna (May 17, 2022). "2022 NHL playoff preview: Flames vs. Oilers". The Athletic. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Matheson, Jim (May 17, 2022). "Oilers' Draisaitl showed guts last series, in for even bigger battle". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  19. ↑ Spector, Mark (June 7, 2022). "Despite disappointing exit, Oilers learn valuable lessons from Avalanche". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Oilers re-sign deadline acquisition Brett Kulak to four-year, $11-million deal". Sportsnet. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  21. ↑ Allen Mitchell (November 2, 2025). "Edmonton Oilers avoid October crisis but it still feels like a missed opportunity". New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  22. ↑ David Staples (December 4, 2025). "Sorry but this is a much worse world of pain than other bad starts for the Edmonton Oilers". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Skinner, Kulak traded to Penguins by Oilers for Jarry". National Hockey League. December 11, 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Penguins trade Brett Kulak to Avalanche for Samuel Girard, second-round pick". sportsnet.ca. February 24, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Minnesota Wild – Colorado Avalanche – May 13, 2026". NHL.com. May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Oilers' Kulak races from daughter's birth to Game 1". ESPN. April 22, 2025.
  27. ↑ Giants d-man Brett Kulak goes from pond hockey to strutting stuff at CHL Top Prospects game | The Province Archived September 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
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