Brett Kulak has quietly built one of the most stable financial profiles in the NHL without a single highlight-reel contract.
The Alberta-born defenceman has banked more than $20 million in career earnings while shifting between five franchises, and his 2026 trade to the Colorado Avalanche only sharpened his value as a reliable, playoff-tested blue liner.
Here is a full breakdown of Brett Kulak’s net worth, salary, contract, and earnings.
Brett Kulak’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Brett Kulak |
| Date of Birth | January 6, 1994 |
| Age (2026) | 32 |
| Birthplace | Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg) |
| Position | Defenceman (shoots left) |
| Current NHL Team | Colorado Avalanche |
| NHL Draft | 105th overall, 4th round, 2012 (Calgary Flames) |
| Years Active | 2013–present |
| Estimated Net Worth | $10 million |
| Career NHL Earnings | $20.5 million+ |
| Current AAV | $2,750,000 |
| Wife | Caitlyn Derek (married July 14, 2021) |
| Children | Two daughters — Ryleigh and Scotlyn |
Early Life and Hockey Journey
Brett Kulak was born on January 6, 1994, in Stony Plain, Alberta, where he grew up on a family farm just outside Edmonton.
He skated through the Stony Plain and Spruce Grove minor hockey programs before being selected 197th overall by the Vancouver Giants in the WHL Bantam Draft.
Kulak spent four full seasons with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, suiting up for 216 games and posting 35 goals and 93 assists. His mobility and offensive instincts attracted NHL scouts and pushed him onto the draft radar.
The Calgary Flames called his name in the fourth round (105th overall) at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
He kept developing in Vancouver and broke out in 2013–14 with 60 points (14 goals, 46 assists), earning him a three-year, $2.45 million entry-level deal with the Flames signed in March 2014.
Kulak split his first pro year between the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles and the AHL’s Adirondack Flames. According to his official NHL.com player page, he made his NHL debut on April 11, 2015, against the Winnipeg Jets in Calgary’s regular-season finale.
Career
Kulak became a regular on Calgary’s third defensive pair during the 2017–18 season, appearing in 71 games. The Flames traded him to the Montreal Canadiens on October 1, 2018, in exchange for Matt Taormina and Rinat Valiev.
His first year in Montreal produced career highs at the time — six goals, 11 assists, and 17 points in 57 games. That performance earned him a three-year, $5.55 million extension averaging $1.85 million annually.
Montreal flipped him to the Edmonton Oilers in March 2022, with the Canadiens retaining 50% of his salary as part of the deal. Kulak immediately stepped into a meaningful role on Edmonton’s blue line and helped the Oilers reach deep playoff runs.
In July 2022, Kulak inked a four-year, $11 million contract with Edmonton, the biggest deal of his career. He played a top-four role during the Oilers’ 2024 Stanley Cup Final run and posted a career-best 25 points in 2024-25 across 82 games.
On December 12, 2025, the Oilers sent Kulak, goaltender Stuart Skinner, and a 2029 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry and Sam Poulin. His Penguins stint was short.
On February 24, 2026, the Avalanche acquired Kulak from Pittsburgh in exchange for Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick. According to Spotrac’s transaction log, the trade slotted him into Colorado’s playoff defensive rotation.
Wife
Brett Kulak is married to Caitlyn Derek. The couple tied the knot at the Three Sisters Mountains in Canmore, Alberta, on July 14, 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced multiple delays.
They share two daughters, Ryleigh and Scotlyn. Ryleigh was born on May 13, 2022, a moment that became national news when Kulak returned to the Oilers lineup for Game 7 of the first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings days later.
Brett Kulak’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Brett Kulak has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
His wealth has been built almost entirely through NHL contracts rather than endorsements, with consistent career-long earnings supplemented by post-tax savings and standard player investments.
Contract
Kulak is currently playing out the final season of his four-year, $11 million contract originally signed with the Edmonton Oilers on July 13, 2022.
The deal carries an average annual value of $2.75 million and remains fully guaranteed through 2025–26.
The Colorado Avalanche absorbed the remaining cap hit when they acquired him at the 2026 trade deadline. Kulak becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2026, at age 32, putting him in line for what could be his final long-term deal.
Salary
For the 2025–26 season, Brett Kulak is earning a $2.75 million cap hit, with his base salary trending lower in the back half of the contract.
His career-high paydays came during the front-loaded years of the Oilers contract, when his cash payout reached $3.25 million in 2022–23.
His current salary places him in the middle tier among veteran NHL defencemen. He is not among the league’s top earners, but he ranks comfortably above the league minimum and above many rotational defenders.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Team | Salary / Cash |
| 2014–17 | Calgary Flames (Entry-Level) | $2,450,000 total |
| 2017–18 | Calgary Flames | $650,000 |
| 2018–19 | Calgary / Montreal | $900,000 |
| 2019–20 | Montreal Canadiens | $1,850,000 |
| 2020–21 | Montreal Canadiens | $1,850,000 |
| 2021–22 | Montreal / Edmonton | $1,850,000 |
| 2022–23 | Edmonton Oilers | $3,250,000 |
| 2023–24 | Edmonton Oilers | $3,000,000 |
| 2024–25 | Edmonton Oilers | $2,500,000 |
| 2025–26 | Edmonton / Pittsburgh / Colorado | $2,250,000 |
| Total | ~$20.55 million |
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points |
| 2017–18 | Calgary | 71 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 2018–19 | Calgary / Montreal | 64 | 6 | 11 | 17 |
| 2019–20 | Montreal | 67 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| 2020–21 | Montreal | 51 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021–22 | Montreal / Edmonton | 80 | 4 | 17 | 21 |
| 2022–23 | Edmonton | 79 | 4 | 16 | 20 |
| 2023–24 | Edmonton | 81 | 4 | 14 | 18 |
| 2024–25 | Edmonton | 82 | 7 | 18 | 25 |
| Career Totals | — | 663+ | 29 | 108 | 137 |
FAQs
What is Brett Kulak’s net worth?
Brett Kulak has an estimated net worth of $10 million. His wealth comes almost entirely from NHL salary earnings, with no major endorsement deals or business ventures publicly attached to his name.
What is Brett Kulak’s NHL salary?
Brett Kulak earns a $2.75 million average annual salary on a four-year, $11 million contract signed with the Edmonton Oilers in July 2022. He plays out that deal with the Colorado Avalanche through the 2025–26 season.
How much has Brett Kulak earned in his NHL career?
Brett Kulak has earned roughly $20.55 million in career NHL salary across contracts with Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, and Colorado. His Oilers deal accounts for more than half of that lifetime total.
Has Brett Kulak won a Stanley Cup?
Brett Kulak has not won a Stanley Cup as of 2026. He reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024 before falling to the Florida Panthers in seven games.
Who is Brett Kulak’s wife?
Brett Kulak is married to Caitlyn Derek. The couple married on July 14, 2021, near the Three Sisters Mountains in Alberta and share two daughters, Ryleigh and Scotlyn.
