Oilers could receive impressive return in trade for 3rd pairing defender

With so much more parity in the NHL standings this season, the trade-deadline is set to be a busy one, with perhaps more buyers than sellers.

For a team with assets to sell, the return could be more than what a player would typically command, in particular for defensemen.

The Oilers acquired Kulak from the Montreal Canadiens ahead of the 2022 Trade Deadline, and he has been a serviceable third-pairing defenseman since.

This season, however, he is struggling to find his usual level of play.

He's a minus-11 through 25 games, the lowest of his career, and was also a minus last year, -7, despite his 25-points.

According to Natural Stat Trick, at even strength, Brett has been on the ice for 129 scoring chances for and 177 against, including 49 high-danger chances for and 63 against.

Kulak is in the last of a 4-year contract at a cap hit of $2.75M, and will be a UFA on July 1, 2026. Considering he will could get a pay raise, the Oilers would do well to trade him for draft picks, or included in a multi-plater deal.

Edmonton is in the market for a goaltender, with both Jordan Binnington and Tristan Jarry being mentioned as possible candidates. To pull it off, they would need to shed salary from it's current roster.

Kulak is Edmonton's only roster earing more than $2M without any trade protection, making him, again, a likely trade-candidate.

Of course, if Kulak were to leave Edmonton, it would end his 289 consecutive-game streak, an unfortunate consequence. But the Oilers are focused on qualifying for the post-season and have little room for sentiment.

The Oilers' GM is in a position where his team is all that should matter and make the right deal to improve it.