The Montreal Canadiens are still building. They haven’t been the busiest team in the summer, but they have been strategic. They acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, extended Jayden Struble, and are poised to have Ivan Demidov from the start of the season.
There is more work to do for the Canadiens this offseason. Heavy.com has proposed an idea to help bolster the team’s defense group by trading for Edmonton Oilers defender Brett Kulak.
Canadiens Acquire:
- Brett Kulak
Oilers Acquire:
- Mike Matheson
- Jakub Dobes
Kulak is a familiar face for Canadiens fans. The Calgary Flames initially drafted the 6-foot-2, 192 lbs, left-handed defender. The 31-year-old was selected 105th overall in 2012. He spent parts of four seasons with the Canadiens before getting traded to the Oilers. In 82 games, he hit career highs in points (25), goals (7), assists (18), and time on ice (20:32).
The Oilers get Mike Matheson, a player who has drawn their interest in the past. Matheson is a 31-year-old left-handed defender who was drafted 23rd overall in the 2012 draft by the Florida Panthers. The 6-foot-2, 196 lbs blueliner recorded 31 points in 80 games, averaging 25:05 a game.
Jakub Dobes is a 24-year-old, 6-foot-4, 214 lbs goalie. He was selected 136th overall in the 2020 entry draft by the Canadiens. The Oilers acquire a young goaltender who can challenge Calvin Pickard for the NHL backup role and serve as an organizational number-three goalie. In 16 NHL games, he posted a record of 7-4-3, had a 2.74 goals against average (GAA), a .909 SV%, and one shutout.
This trade proposal reunites the Canadiens with Kulak, a more well-rounded defender who gives the organization better depth. The Oilers add a goaltender, a position they have identified as needing improvement.
Brett Kulak Can Help Canadiens’ Blueline
Since Kulak arrived in Edmonton, he has served as a third-pairing defender. In his first two seasons, he averaged 17:31 & 15:23 per game, respectively. These numbers line up with third-pairing minutes.
Kulak is a versatile player who can play either side, as well as up and down the lineup.
“He played quite a bit during the regular season and then the playoffs, and he continued that in the absence of Mattias Ekholm,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said to the media before the Stanley Cup Final in early June. “We needed more from him, and when I say more from him, he was just on the ice more and was able to play key minutes against key players like (Mikko) Rantanen and (Anze) Kopitar.”
“Not only that, but playing left side, right side, and being very versatile.”
The Canadiens have had Matheson skate on the right side at times. However, Kulak spent 425 minutes of his 1529 even-strength minutes playing on the right side with Darnell Nurse.
Kulak’s skating has allowed him to go from 20:32 a night in the regular season to 23:25 a night in the playoffs.
“I think a lot of that is because he is a smart player,” Knoblauch said. “He’s competitive, but also a tremendous skater. He’s able to get around the ice very well, and that mobility has allowed him to check players, top players, whether they’re physical or fast.”
Kulak on the Outside Looking in?
The Oilers have a slew of left-handed defensemen in their group. Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Jake Walman, and Kulak are all NHL-calibre defenders. Nurse is signed for five more seasons, but Kulak, Walman, and Ekholm are all entering the final year of their respective contracts.
At least two of those three defenders are expected to be offered contract extensions before the beginning of the 2025-26 regular season.
“By August 28th, I can foresee a scenario where extensions are done on Podkolzin, Walman, Ekholm, and McDavid,” Oilers Now radio host (and Oilers insider) Bob Stauffer revealed on his Monday show. “And a potential extension for Kris Knoblauch as well.”
“I would say that Kulak will probably have a decision to make,” Stauffer also said. “Does he go to market after his performance the past couple of years in the playoffs, or does he stay here?”
The Canadiens can get a jump on next year’s free agent class by trading for the 31-year-old now instead of later. Kulak is in the final year of a four-year $2.75-million deal.
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