Brett Kulak’s 2025-26 season ends with a new chapter, capped by a midyear trade

Brett Kulak finished the 2025-26 NHL season with a familiar profile and an unfamiliar destination, wrapping up his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins before landing with the Colorado Avalanche. The 32-year-old left-shot defenseman logged 25 games with Pittsburgh, producing one goal and six assists for seven points, according to the season review published by Yahoo Sports.

Kulak’s year in Pittsburgh began after the Penguins acquired him in December as part of the broader Tristan Jarry swap from the Edmonton Oilers. The transaction was aimed at addressing depth needs and keeping Pittsburgh’s defensive group staffed for the season’s long middle stretch, while also reshaping the cap picture in a way that aligned with both clubs’ roster plans. In the Penguins’ retooling environment, Kulak’s value was never presented as that of a primary offense driver, but rather as a veteran option meant to stabilize minutes and simplify decision-making in the defensive zone.

Through the season, Kulak’s production remained modest, matching that supporting-role expectation. The season review compiled by PensBurgh put the full 2025-26 totals at 83 games overall with one goal and 11 assists, while also highlighting that his most productive stretch came during a January run while wearing a Penguins sweater. PensBurgh also points to a standout Penguins win on Jan. 19 against the Seattle Kraken, when Kulak scored his lone goal of the season for Pittsburgh, and returned plus-3 in that contest.

Two months after his arrival in Pittsburgh, Kulak’s Penguins stint concluded with another trade. On Feb. 24, 2026, the NHL’s official site reported that the Colorado Avalanche acquired Kulak from Pittsburgh in exchange for Samuel Girard and a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. The Avalanche move placed Kulak into a different defensive system and, importantly, indicated Colorado’s desire to add experienced depth rather than chase scoring from the blue line.

For Colorado, the acquisition matters because the Avalanche’s roster construction has often depended on layered defensive stability during the season’s highest-leverage periods, when opponents tighten matchups and the margin for defensive mistakes becomes smaller. Kulak’s skill set has typically fit best in those scenarios: dependable positioning, physical responsibility, and a willingness to play the quieter minutes that allow more dynamic teammates to take on heavier offensive assignments.

Looking ahead, Kulak enters July 1 unrestricted free agency after completing a four-year, $11 million contract, as described in the Yahoo Sports season review. That makes the rest of this offseason consequential, not because it will reveal a new star role, but because it will determine what kind of defensive plan he is asked to execute next. If he continues to be used as a veteran minute-eater and transitional defender, his next team likely will be one that values structure as much as results on the scoresheet.

In the immediate term, the key questions for fans are simple. Will Kulak’s role in Colorado expand beyond depth minutes once the team’s regular defensive pairings settle, and how quickly can he integrate into the Avalanche’s puck-advancing responsibilities? The answers will show whether 2025-26 should be remembered mainly as a trade-driven bridge season, or as a final push before a more prominent opportunity arrives in the next uniform.