Brett Kulak, Stuart Skinner get fresh starts with the Penguins

Before he fully joined the Pittsburgh Penguins, Brett Kulak had to be granted permission by a pretty highfalutin authority.

No, not United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

(Though the native of Stony Plain, Alberta did have to get his immigration status squared away after the Penguins traded for him on Friday.)

The blessing Kulak sought came from a more revered entity.

Paul Coffey.

Once upon a time (1987, to be precise), Coffey, a dominant offensive defenseman, was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Penguins and he audaciously donned No. 77 in Pittsburgh.

So, when the Oilers dealt Kulak to the Penguins on Friday, Kulak requested clearance from Coffey, today an executive with the Oilers.

“I asked him if it would be OK if I wore his old number,” Kulak said.

Kulak will wear those digits as he makes his scheduled Penguins debut Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena, against, of all teams, the Oilers. He’ll be joined by goaltender Stuart Skinner, who also came over in the trade (along with a second-round draft pick in 2029) in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry and rookie forward Sam Poulin.

Through a spectacular collision of events, Skinner, also a Canadian national who needed clearance for a work visa, is slated to make his Penguins debut against Jarry, the Penguins’ primary starter in net for parts of the past six seasons.

“We’re ripping off the Band-Aid right away, which is good,” the Edmonton-born Skinner said following his new team’s morning skate in Cranberry. “Thinking about it, I think I’d rather it be like this and just kind of get it over with, but also to enjoy it, too. I get to play my old teammates, and me and Brett get to do it together, and I think that’s nothing but exciting.”

The past two seasons have been plenty exciting for Kulak and Skinner (the latter of whom presumably did not seek input from ex-Penguins defenseman Jay McKee over No. 74). They’ve been to the past two Stanley Cup Finals. But on each occasion, they lost to the Florida Panthers.

Off to a so-so start this season, Oilers management sought change and Jarry was the primary focus of that pursuit. Once they met the demands of Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas, the transaction was processed.

Just given the scrutiny typically directed toward his position, Skinner, who still wore his Edmonton-themed helmet during Tuesday’s skate, bore the brunt of criticisms levied against the Oilers’ sputtering start.

“It’s just part of the business,” said Skinner, the primary starter in Edmonton’s net the past four seasons. “It’s a trade that needed to be done, and I think it’s good for both teams. And, to be honest … I care more about where my work is and being able to be on a new team in this exciting moment.

“So, I’m not really thinking about if it’s fair or not to me. It’s part of my life and I get to own that.”

Kulak owns a consecutive games played streak of 295 entering Tuesday’s contest. While he and Skinner sat out a pair of games for the Penguins on Saturday and Sunday, it was for reasons beyond their control with the immigration process. As such, the NHL deemed Kulak’s streak as still active.

What has he done at a high enough level to be in so many games for such a successful Oilers team over that span?

“Good skating, consistency,” he said when asked for a self-scouting report. “You’re going to expect the same effort and the same quality of play every night.”

On Tuesday night, Kulak and Skinner will each be getting fresh starts.

“It’s a continuation, just with a different group and new jersey on, which is extremely exciting,” Skinner said. “I think that’s the part that kind of gives you that reset. Even just being around all smiles in here and guys are having fun.

“It’s just been awesome.”