Pavel Malyugin 3. Brett Kulak
Position: LD
2021-22 Statline: 36-1-7-8
Contract: UFA in 2022, $1.85m AAV
Age: 28
The Montreal Canadiens will sell as they’ve never sold before at this year’s trade deadline. They’ve had a disappointing season, and with the arrival of their new GM, Kent Hughes, they’ll be looking to make some big decisions.
Upcoming unrestricted free agent Ben Chiarot’s name has been thrown around this entire season, and some teams have interest in him. Realistically, trading anything for Ben Chiarot would be a mistake.
Ben Chiarot is a glorified 7th defenseman who has zero to no positive value to his team. It’s as simple as that.
But if you’re looking at receiving a big body defensive defenseman who can kill penalties and be a good addition to the back end, you must make an inquiry on Brett Kulak of the Montreal Canadiens.
The 6-foot-1, 196-pound defenseman has been one of the more well-defensively built players in the NHL for a few years now, and it really does surprise me that teams don’t give him more attention.
The player brings valid value to his team. He’s 8th on the Habs via WAR (wins above replacement) with 0.4 (70% as a percentage) and 8th on the team in SPAR (standing points above replacement) with 0.7. Kulak has underlying value to the Montreal Canadiens, and he’s saved goals from going in. He has a 2.6 EVD on the year, which is second on the team.
If you’re looking to see how much of a defensive impact he really does have that makes him a better player than Chiarot, it’s all in the numbers. Chiarot has -2.5 EVD, has a negative value GAR, SPAR, and WAR, unlike Kulak, who has all positives.
Not to mention, Kulak has a lower xGA, GA, and he’s more compactable while playing fewer minutes. Kulak has been a legitimate defensive defenseman in this league for years now, and it’s a bit wild how he hasn’t gotten credit for it.
His defensive play has gotten a bit worse by every single season, but that’s not something that can be necessarily blamed on Kulak. The Montreal Canadiens have gotten worse and worse year by year, and it does make me wonder how he would do playing on a skillful team with statutory chances at making the playoffs.
The point that I’m trying to convey is that if you’re a general manager and you’re looking to find a strong and powerful defenseman to trade for, you would have the safer bet of paying less and getting a better defenseman in Brett Kulak than overpaying on Ben Chiarot.
Kulak can do exactly what Chiarot can, but even better. The reality is that you’re getting Kulak at a bargain, and you won’t deplore the decision.
Great feed from Brett Kulak, an actual puck moving defenseman. Anderson can’t finish. pic.twitter.com/C8A7nwbGs6
— Ryan Praught (@RyanPraught) October 20, 2021
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