NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Could Flip Recently Acquired Brett Kulak
After the Tristan Jarry deal brought Kulak over from the Edmonton Oilers, Elliotte Friedman floated the idea that Pittsburgh could treat him like a flip candidate, especially if his game rounds back into form.
Brett Kulak trade rumors in Pittsburgh
According to Friedman, Pittsburgh’s willingness to take on Kulak changed the entire dynamic of the deal, and it may not have been done with permanence in mind.
Kulak has had a rough season, but his track record says he is better than what he has shown, and teams still pay for steady left-shot depth when the deadline pressure hits.
Brett Kulak, acquired by PIT, is a defensive defenceman who generally plays a stabilizing role. Not having a great season and has had his minutes cut, but worth mentioning the Oilers goalies had an .861 save % with him on the ice. #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/91EPkQcN3K
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 12, 2025
He's also shown he rises to the occasion in high-pressure moments, as seen in the Oilers' last Stanley Cup run. He entered the playoffs as a third-pairing type of defenseman, and by the time the Oilers were in the Finals, he was playing top minutes.
Dating back to 2022, Kulak has recorded three goals, 20 total points, a strong +16 plus/minus rating, 129 blocked shots, and 83 hits over 75 playoff games with the Oilers. Last year, he averaged 23:25 time on ice during Edmonton's run.
Penguins could flip Brett Kulak for “more”
If Kulak settles in and looks closer to the player Friedman believes is still there, Pittsburgh suddenly has options. Kyle Dubas can keep him if the Penguins stay in the race, or shop him if the bigger plan is stacking futures. Either way, Kulak is the kind of name that can quietly turn into a useful return once contenders start circling for blue line help.
Man I think Brett Kulak’s capability and contribution to the Oilers is not being properly recognized by some. That dude is a rock solid NHL defensemen who helped a team to the Stanley Cup twice. Never missed a game.
— bcurlock (@bcurlock) December 13, 2025
I’m fine with the trade but give him his due. He was good.
This season, the 31-year-old has zero goals, two points, a -7 plus/minus rating, 38 blocked shots and four hits across 31 games played.
For a team that is clearly keeping an eye on the future, flipping Kulak for picks or younger assets may end up being the smarter long-term play.
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
