Oilers’ Kulak Possible Trade Man to Free Up Cap Space – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are one of the top teams in the NHL, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their problems. There are areas of their roster that could use improvement, especially on their blue line. There are still those who doubt their strike on the goal, whether it was fair or not.

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Another problem of this group is its salary problems. This is rare, as most top teams strive to make things work from a dollar perspective. Bad contracts, like Darnell Nurse, don’t help, but then again, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team that doesn’t have a bad deal or two on the books.

The biggest problem for the Oilers at this point is that they sit about $341,000 over the cap. That number doesn’t seem like a big deal, even though they’re sitting there despite having to re-sign two restricted free agents, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. While there’s still time to make things right, the Oilers will have to move someone to pay for their two rookies, and that someone may end up being Brett Kulak.

Kulak is an attractive option

Absolutely not the Oilers search to eliminate Kulak. The 30-year-old has been as reliable as he’s come since joining the club at the 2022 Trade Deadline. Although he is not a standout, he is a stable player in the third pairing, giving opposition teams very little in terms of attacking opportunities. He’s also one of the team’s best athletes, which helps him move the puck out of the zone with ease.

Kulak has also proven to be very reliable in terms of health. He hasn’t missed a game for the Oilers, making up for all 182 regular season games, as well as all 53 playoff games. He also carries an estimated salary of $2.75 million for the 2025-26 season.

Perhaps most important of all is that, under the bright lights of fans known to be tough on defenders, there are few, if any, non-appreciators who come with the club. So, if everything is so good, why would he be the one to be removed?

Unfortunately for the Oilers, there aren’t a ton of other options. The most talked about, and the one that fans would like to see go, is Cody Ceci. While Ceci isn’t as bad of a player as many on X (formerly Twitter) seem to suggest, she doesn’t deserve the $3.25 million she’s commanding. Other teams seem to share that sentiment, as the Calgary Flames reportedly declined a first-round pick from the Oilers before the 2024 trade deadline for Chris Tanev, only because Ceci would be part of the deal.

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Ceci has been cast in the wrong role with the Oilers, as he is a third defenseman who is often tasked with playing a role in the front four. It hasn’t been much of a problem this regular season when the Oilers tend to overcome their struggles, but it has shown up in each of the last three contests. Head coach Kris Knoblauch even opted to remain healthy for the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.

Although he only has one year left on his contract, the Oilers will still need to add a piece to get Ceci’s deal off the books. While that may still be the way newly hired general manager (GM) Stan Bowman chooses to go, it’s not ideal, and he and the rest of his staff may be guessing.

The only other option on the Oilers roster that will be removed as a victim is Evander Kane. Like Ceci, however, it will be difficult to move. At his best, Kane is a top-six striker capable of providing goals and intensity. However, he hasn’t played nearly as well as he has in the past two seasons, due to injuries. Being 32 years old with injury issues and a contract that expires in 2025-26 with a cap hit of $5.125 million doesn’t bode well for the player some GMs are hoping to get.

The one outcome in all of this that could save Kulak from being taken over is Kane’s life. There has been talk that any injury (or possibly injuries) he suffers could force him to be sidelined for a long time. That would allow the Oilers to re-sign Broberg and Holloway while still complying with the cap, or if or when Kane is deemed eligible to leave, another move would have to happen.

Tough Decision Ahead for the Oilers

One way or another, the Oilers will have to make a tough decision with one of the three players mentioned above. Although fans would like Ceci to be the one to go, it might have to be Kulak. His salary, coupled with his performance, makes him an attractive asset and very easy for the team to deal with.