At 34, Erik Karlsson can't be in his prime anymore, but he's still a commodity. The Pittsburgh Penguins would trade him "in a heartbeat," as reports have it, which makes him an attractive choice for teams seeking offense on the blue line.
A three-time Norris Trophy recipient, Karlsson remains one of the greatest power-play quarterbacks in the league with great even-strength numbers.
His 40 points rank 11th among NHL blueliners as of Tuesday and his solid play at the 4 Nations Face-Off proved he's still capable of thriving on the grand stage.
But he's not a good match for every club. His lack of defensive prowess is a minus, so he's best employed in a sheltered offensive spot.
His $10-million cap hit for the rest of his contract is another hurdle, although should Pittsburgh offer to cling to 50% may make him more palatable. And Karlsson's hard-sell no-movement clause has him in control over any deal.
Aside from that, he has to generate a lot of excitement, with three playoff clubs jumping out as potential fits right off the bat: the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Florida Panthers.
If Karlsson's willing to go, their GMs owe themselves a look to determine what can be arranged, and we will get more clarity over the next 10 days as the trade deadline draws nearer.
POLL | ||
FÉVRIER 26 | 217 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas Reportedly Wants to Trade Norris Trophy-Winning Defenseman Will Erik Karlsson be traded by the deadline? | ||
Yes | 145 | 66.8 % |
No | 72 | 33.2 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
G | A | PTS | ||
Complete stats |
STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 82 | 56 | 22 | 4 | 116 | |
Capitals | 82 | 51 | 22 | 9 | 111 | |
Golden Knights | 82 | 50 | 22 | 10 | 110 | |
Maple Leafs | 82 | 52 | 26 | 4 | 108 | |
Stars | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
Kings | 82 | 48 | 25 | 9 | 105 | |
Avalanche | 82 | 49 | 29 | 4 | 102 | |
Lightning | 82 | 47 | 27 | 8 | 102 | |
Oilers | 82 | 48 | 29 | 5 | 101 | |
Hurricanes | 82 | 47 | 30 | 5 | 99 | |
Conference | Cumulative |