The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Brett Kulak, the teams announced on Tuesday. Furthermore, no salary is being retained in the transaction.
We have acquired Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Samuel Girard and a 2nd round pick in 2028 NHL Draft. pic.twitter.com/tZrCRBm3LB
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 24, 2026
Samuel Girard Trade Sends Defenceman to Pittsburgh Penguins
Girard represents the headline piece of the deal. He carries two seasons remaining on a contract with a $5 million salary cap hit, providing Pittsburgh with cost certainty beyond this season.
Samuel Girard Brings Offensive Mobility to Pittsburgh
The Samuel Girard trade adds one of the league’s more agile puck-moving defencemen to the Penguins’ blueline. Girard’s projected WAR ranks in the 84th percentile among defencemen, driven largely by his elite even-strength offence. His offensive impact sits in the 91st percentile, reflecting his ability to transport the puck through the neutral zone and manipulate space along the offensive blue line.
At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Girard wins with skating and creativity rather than physicality. He excels at escaping forecheck pressure and activating into space to create shooting lanes. Additionally, he draws penalties at a high rate, helping tilt possession in his team’s favour.
Defensively, he grades closer to league average. He can be vulnerable defending the rush or battling heavier forwards in tight. However, in a transition-focused system, his mobility often outweighs those concerns.
Colorado goal!Scored by Samuel Girard with 14:41 remaining in the 2nd period.Assisted by Sam Malinski and Valeri Nichushkin.Vegas: 2Colorado: 1#COLvsVGK #VegasBorn #GoAvsGo
— NHL Goals (@nhlgoals.bsky.social) 2025-12-28T04:21:03.203423Z
Brett Kulak Returns to Colorado
At number 32 on The Athletic’s trade board, Colorado acquires a steadier, defence-first profile in Kulak. The veteran blueliner ranks in the 80th percentile in even-strength defence and an elite 98th percentile on the penalty kill. His game prioritizes positioning, clean breakouts, and limiting high-risk plays. Realistically, Kulak does not provide the same offensive upside as Girard. However, he offers structural reliability and Stanley Cup Playoff experience, having logged significant postseason minutes over the past several seasons.
Pittsburgh goal!Scored by Brett Kulak with 05:15 remaining in the 2nd period.Seattle: 2Pittsburgh: 3#PITvsSEA #SeaKraken #LetsGoPens
— NHL Goals (@nhlgoals.bsky.social) 2026-01-19T23:36:02.460679Z
From a cap perspective, the Avalanche reduce salary by $2.25 million annually in the swap. Lastly, the inclusion of a 2028 second-round pick adds future draft capital to Pittsburgh’s side of the ledger.
Ultimately, the trade reflects a stylistic exchange. Pittsburgh adds dynamic puck-moving ability with term, while Colorado opts for defensive insulation and financial flexibility as both teams reshape their blue lines.
Main photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images