The Colorado Avalanche have re-signed pending unrestricted free agent defencemen Brett Kulak and Brent Burns, the team announced.
Kulak received a five-year deal that carries an AAV of $4.5 million, while Burns got a one-year contract with an $850K base salary. The veteran can earn over $2 million more in performance bonuses.
Kulak, 32, finished last season with the Colorado Avalanche after he was traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Samuel Girard and a draft pick before the trade deadline.
He was previously acquired by the Penguins, along with goaltender Stuart Skinner and a draft pick, from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin on Dec. 12.
Kulak had a goal and 12 points in 83 games last season split between the Oilers, Penguins, and Avalanche while averaging 18:58 of ice time.
He added a goal and five points in 13 playoff games while averaging 20:38 of ice time before the Avalanche were eliminated in the Western Conference Final.
The 6-foot-1, left-shot defenceman is coming off a four-year, $11 million contract that carries a cap hit of $2.75 million.
Drafted 105th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2012, Kulak has 29 goals and 137 points in 663 career games split between the Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Oilers, Penguins, and Avalanche.
Kulak helped the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025.
Burns, 41, played last season with the Colorado Avalanche, recording 12 goals and 35 points while averaging 18:53 of ice time in 82 games. He added four assists in 13 playoff games as the Avalanche were swept in the Western Conference Final by the Vegas Golden Knights.
The 6-foot-5, right-shot blueliner is coming off a one-year, $1 million contract.
Drafted 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2003, Burns has 273 goals and 945 points in 1,579 career games split between the Wild, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Avalanche.
Burns won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman in 2017 after putting up 29 goals and 76 points in 82 games while averaging 24:52 as a member of the Sharks.
He also helped the Sharks reach their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history in 2016, recording seven goals and 24 points in 24 playoff games while averaging 25:07 of ice time.
The Barrie, Ont., native has represented Canada four times at the World Hockey Championship, earning silver in 2008. He also helped his country to a gold medal at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.
