Oilers acquire defenceman Brett Kulak, forward Derick Brassard in trade deadline day deals

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland was busy on NHL trade deadline day, working two deals involving three players and three draft picks. 

In its first deal, the team acquired defenceman Brett Kulak from the Montreal Canadiens for a 2022 second-round draft pick, a 2024 seventh-round pick, as well as forward William Lagesson.

Kulak, 28, has played parts of eight NHL seasons, starting with the Calgary Flames in the 2014-15 season and with Montreal since 2018-19. The Canadiens will retain half of his salary for the remainder of the season.

"We saw a lot of him last year playing in the Canadian Division," said Holland of Kulak. "We were looking for a left-shot defenceman and there wasn't a lot on the market. We're fortunate. We're happy to get one." 

The Stony Plain native has 13 points in 56 games so far this season.

Lagesson, 26, was selected by the Oilers in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. The Swede was in his third season with Edmonton, and had appeared in 30 games this season, recording four assists.  

Later Monday, the Oilers traded for veteran Philadelphia Flyers forward Derick Brassard in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2023 draft.

Brassard, 34, is in his 15th NHL season and scored 27 goals for the New York Rangers in 2015-2016. The Flyers will pay half of his salary for the remainder of the season where he's recorded 16 points in 31 games. 

He's recorded 68 points in 117 career NHL post-season games.

"He's had a good playoff resume and gives us more depth as we push to try to qualify for a playoff spot," Holland said of Brassard.

The Oilers become his seventh team in the last four seasons. 

Holland told reporters he was comfortable holding off on upgrading the team's inconsistent play in net from Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen. 

"I think when both goalies are healthy, I'm comfortable with our goaltending," said Holland. 

"I'm comfortable that when we've got the tandem together that they give us good goaltending."

The team is in Denver on Monday to play the Colorado Avalanche at 7:30 p.m. The Oilers enter tonight's game in a playoff spot, in third place in the Pacific Division.