{"id":122346,"date":"2026-02-24T19:58:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T19:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/122346\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T19:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T19:58:15","slug":"kulak-to-avs-for-girard-and-pick-full-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/122346\/","title":{"rendered":"Kulak to Avs for Girard and Pick; Full Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> answered one question very quickly following the Olympic break. Would they keep pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Brett Kulak? <\/p>\n

The answer was no, as Penguins\u2019 president of hockey operations\/GM Kyle Dubas<\/a> traded the left-handed Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for zippy, lefty d-man Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick. <\/p>\n

The Penguins acquired Kulak along with goalie Stuart Skinner and a 2029 second-round pick in the Tristan Jarry to Edmonton deal on Dec. 12. Kulak immediately teamed with Kris Letang<\/a> on the second pairing, and both elevated their games. <\/p>\n

However, Kulak is 32 years old and a pending unrestricted free agent. He registered seven points, including one goal with the Penguins while being the steady defensive balance for Letang. <\/p>\n

Girard is much younger, 27, and is a good skating, puck-moving defender who kills penalties and can run a power play. However, he is also small, listed at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. <\/p>\n

He is in the sixth year of a seven-year deal that carries a $5 million salary cap hit annually. The trade will cost the Penguins some salary cap space as Kulak carried only a $2.75 million cap hit. <\/p>\n

This season, Girard is averaging over 17 minutes per game (17:41), with 12 points (3-9-12) in 40 games. His offensive production has dipped from an average in the mid-30s to the mid-20s over the last few seasons. He was playing on the third pairing with the Avalanche. <\/p>\n

Penguins Trade Analysis<\/p>\n

Younger and faster. That\u2019s the good news. The bad news is smaller, and it is hard to figure out where Girard might slot on the Penguins\u2019 blue line. Without Kulak, Ryan Shea<\/a> would seem likely to return to the pair with Letang, while Girard plays beside Connor Clifton. <\/p>\n

In fact, Girard could be a replacement for Letang on the blue line in the coming years, filling that PP2, puck-moving second-pair role. <\/p>\n

The move also seems to be a harbinger of more, as the Penguins\u2019 blue line would not seem to be as well-balanced as it was before the trade. Through no fault of Shea, Letang was better with Kulak. <\/p>\n

Girard is best when paired with a bigger, stay-at-home defenseman on the right, which will be Clifton. <\/p>\n

The Penguins still lack depth on the right side, and Ryan Graves remains the extra defenseman. The only other right-handed stick in the organization is Matt Dumba<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: brett kulak<\/a> nhl trade<\/a> Penguins Trade<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> samuel girard<\/a> <\/p>\n

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