After seeing what’s out there, Brett Kulak has decided to go back to the Edmonton Oilers after all. The depth defenseman has re-signed with the Oilers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports it will be a four-year deal worth $2.75MM per season.
It’s been a fast rise for Kulak, who came to Edmonton in a mid-season trade. There are some who questioned Oilers GM Ken Holland’s choice to part with a second-round pick in order to acquire Kulak, but he answered those questions with his play as an Oiler. Kulak, an analytics darling, was a reliable two-way defenseman for the Oilers during their run to the Western Conference Final, showing that he could be just as comfortable carrying the puck in transition as he was battling a forward for position in front of the net. Kulak’s versatile, all-situations game endeared him to both coach Jay Woodcroft and Edmonton fans and is likely what earned him this deal.
This deal is largely a positive one, but not without at least some risk. During his time in Montreal, Kulak would have stretches where he looked like a fit in the team’s top-four, and then have stretches where he didn’t even look like he belonged on the ice. The talent was there, but the consistency was missing. The success of Kulak’s tenure in Edmonton so far brings up the question: has Kulak become the consistently reliable defenseman he’s shown he’s talented enough to be? Or is this just another one of his “good” stretches, just one that he’s timed really well?
That’s the question Kulak will need to answer, but based on his play in Edmonton so far it’s hard to be anything but optimistic.
Have yourself a day KH.