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Avalanche acquire veteran D Brett Kulak from Pittsburgh for D Samuel Girard and a draft pick

Heather Khalifa/AP

New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) scores past Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brett Kulak (77) during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brett Kulak is on the move for the second time this season. The Pittsburgh Penguins sent the veteran defenseman to Colorado on Tuesday in exchange for defenseman Samuel Girard and a second-round pick in the 2028 draft. Kulak played 25 games in Pittsburgh after being acquired in a December trade that shipped two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry to Edmonton. Kulak has one goal and eight assists in 56 combined games this season for the Penguins and Oilers. Kulak's arrival gives the Avalanche an experienced stay-at-home defenseman as Colorado tries to hold on to the top spot in the Western Conference. The 27-year-old Girard is a 10-year NHL veteran who has spent the last eight-plus seasons with the Avalanche. Girard, who is signed through the 2026-27 season, had three goals and nine assists in 40 games this season with Colorado. The additional draft capital the Penguins picked up in the deal gives them 34 picks overall over the next four drafts, including 20 selections in the first three rounds. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl