Player Discussion Brett Kulak

[TheNumber4]

Kulak is a very good hockey player and has been an great addition to this playoff run. Great pick up by Holland.

Hometown player, lays it all on the line, upward potential still based on his skating. Resign this guy and shore up the left side.

Looks like that Upward Potential is paying off!

When asked to do more, this guy always comes through. Plays his best in the most important games. Can play Top 4 and even Top Pair in a pinch.

He's the Petry Retribution Project in my mind. They stole a Petry when his value was low for a 2nd and a conditional 5th, turned Petry into a Top 4 D and benefitted for years. We got Kulak (50%) for a 2nd, nothing prospect Lagesson, and a 7th.

 

[K1984]

One of the great things about Kulak is the price tag. In an off season where overrated bum defensive D men like Chariot and Gudbranson were being given $4MAAV+ on long term deals he signed with us for $2.75x4 and he's hands down the best of that group of D men that signed around the league that year.

Kulak is the perfect utility knife of a defensemen and does it cheap. Throw him into any role and he'll find a way to contribute. Keeping him gets blamed for why we lost Broberg, but I don't think we get as far as we have in any of 22, 23 or 24 if we didn't have Kulak. He's critical, especially when he steps up in the playoffs while Nurse doesn't. He's a good redundancy.

 

[Stoneman89]

Wasn't 2 long ago that he was on the trading block on this site. Nice to see him come through with the added responsibility. Helps makes the removal of Broberg a bit more palatable. When you think of it, not sure how happy Broberg would have been playing bottom pairing minutes here, if Kulak took off like this at the beginning of the season.

 

[Heavy Dee]

This is a great article by Spector on Kulak.

How Brett Kulak's upbringing turned him into an honest defenceman

Oilers defenceman Brett Kulak has made a career through sheer determination, a superior stride and the mental strength to never meet a hurdle that was too high. That perseverance was learned over the kitchen table.

www.sportsnet.ca