The Oilers have steadied themselves after a sluggish start to the season. They now sit fourth in the Pacific Division with a 15-12-6 record and have won four of their last six games.
Last week, Edmonton moved to address its ongoing goaltending issues by trading starting goalie Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Tristan Jarry. To get the deal done, the Oilers also had to give up an $11 million defenseman, a move that has since drawn criticism from an NHL insider.
Insider Scrutinizes Oilers’ Decision to Sacrifice $11M Defenseman to Get Tristan Jarry
As part of the trade, Edmonton sent defenseman Brett Kulak, who is in the final year of his four-year, $11 million contract, along with a second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft. Pittsburgh also included forward Samuel Poulin.
Speaking on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer, insider Frank Seravalli admitted he wasn’t sold on Edmonton’s approach.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t love the move trading Kulak,” Seravalli acknowledged that Kulak has had some struggles this season, but emphasized his value when games matter most, noting his strong playoff track record.
“I think if you had gotten to the point where you felt like you had to trade Brett Kulak, do it in a separate transaction where you can get more for him.”@frank_seravalli on the #letsgooilers decision to trade Brett Kulak to the Penguins alongside Stuart Skinner.
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— Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer (@OilersNow) December 16, 2025
Kulak averaged more than 23:25 of ice time per game during last year’s postseason, playing all 22 playoff games and recording five points along the way.
Adding another layer to the discussion is Edmonton’s earlier move to acquire Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators for a 2027 third-round pick. Seravalli suggested the Oilers may view Stastney as a younger replacement entering his prime, while Kulak could be nearing the end of his.
Even so, he questioned whether bundling Kulak into the Jarry trade was the best use of an asset.
ALSO READ: NHL Trade Rumors: Oilers Far From Done After Pulling Off Sensational Tristan Jarry Trade
“I think if you had gotten to the point where you felt like you had to trade Brett Kulak, do it in a separate transaction where you can get more for him instead of throwing him into this deal,” Seravalli said. “So, I don’t love the asset management on that part, but that’s necessary to get this deal done.”
Ultimately, the Oilers paid a premium to solve an urgent need in goal. Whether that price proves justified will likely depend on Jarry’s performance down the stretch and into the playoffs. Edmonton will get an immediate measuring stick when they face the Penguins on the road Tuesday night, a matchup made even more intriguing by the recent goalie swap.
