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Former Edmonton Oilers defenceman cashes in with $22.5M contract

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Jun 26 2026, 5:55 pm
Former Edmonton Oilers defenceman cashes in with $22.5M contract
Isaiah J. Downing/Imagn Images

Former Edmonton Oilers defenceman Brett Kulak won’t have to worry about switching teams once again this offseason.

On Friday afternoon, the Colorado Avalanche announced that they have re-signed Kulak. TSN’s Chris Johnston has since confirmed that it is a five-year deal worth $22.5 million. The deal will carry an average annual value of $4.5 million.

This deal gives Kulak plenty of stability after what was a chaotic 2025-26 season.

The veteran blueliner started the season off with the Oilers before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins alongside Stuart Skinner in mid-December. His time in Pittsburgh was short, as he was traded for a second time to the Avalanche in late February.

Kulak, who had a combined 12 points on the season, played a big role for the Avalanche. He averaged north of 19 minutes on their back end through 27 regular-season games, a number which increased to 20:38 in 13 playoff outings.

While not the flashiest of defencemen, Kulak is a steady presence who can play in both a second- and third-pairing role. He was acquired by the Oilers during the 2021-22 season and played a big role on their back end during some lengthy playoff runs, including back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025.

The Kulak extension wasn’t the only deal the Avalanche got done today, either.

Just minutes after announcing that they’d re-signed Kulak, the Avalanche confirmed that Brent Burns will be returning as well. The 41-year-old re-upped on a one-year deal worth $850,000, though TSN’s Pierre LeBrun is reporting that he can earn up to an additional $2 million in bonuses.

This contract for Kulak, 32, marks the biggest deal of his career, far exceeding the four-year, $11-million extension he signed with the Oilers prior to the 2022-23 campaign. He’s yet to win a Stanley Cup over the course of his 663-game career, but should have several more cracks at one on what is a stacked Avalanche roster.

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