The Colorado Avalache have acquired defenceman Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick, the team announced Tuesday.
It’s the second time Kulak has been traded this season, going from the Edmonton Oilers to the Penguins on Dec. 12 in a deal involving goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner.
The 32-year-old blueliner has one goal and eight assists for nine points in 56 games this season split between the two teams while averaging 18:53 of ice time a night. He is a pending unrestricted free agent, carrying a cap hit of $2.75 million on his expiring deal.
Kulak is a veteran of 12 NHL seasons split between the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens in addition to the Oilers and Penguins.
Tidy business for the #pens, who have now turned Tristan Jarry and Sam Poulin into:
Stuart Skinner
Sam Girard
2028 2nd
2029 2nd
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 24, 2026
The 27-year-old Girard has three goals and 12 assists in 40 games with the Avs in 2025-26, averaging 17:41 of ice time per game.
Girard is signed through next season at a cap hit of $5 million.
After beginning his career with the Nashville Predators in 2017-18, Girard joined the Avalanche during that season and played the next nine seasons in Colorado.