Penguins Acquire Girard, 2028 Pick for Kulak

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche executed a significant trade on Tuesday, swapping defensemen Brett Kulak and Samuel Girard while adding a future draft pick to the mix, marking one of the first major moves since the NHL lifted its Olympic roster freeze.

In the deal, the Penguins acquired 27-year-old defenseman Girard and Colorado's second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. The Avalanche received 32-year-old defenseman Kulak, who had joined Pittsburgh just two months earlier. No salary retention was involved, allowing both teams to adjust their rosters ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.

Kulak, a veteran known for his steady defensive play, brings experience to Colorado's back end. He recorded one goal and eight assists across 56 games this season, split between the Edmonton Oilers and Penguins, where he averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game in Pittsburgh. Acquired by the Penguins in December as part of a package that sent goaltender Tristan Jarry to Edmonton, Kulak bolsters the Avalanche's middle pairing. Colorado, which holds the top spot in the Western Conference, gains a reliable minute-eater capable of handling defensive-zone starts and penalty-kill...