Erik Karlsson recently won the James Norris Trophy by becoming the first NHL defenseman to score 100 points in over 30 years. Although the media and fans enjoyed watching the Swedish defender become only the sixth player in league history to accomplish the milestone, no one talked about his minus-26 rating or that he played on the league’s fourth-worst team, the San Jose Sharks.
As a three-time Norris Winner, Karlsson is chasing a Stanley Cup title to complete his resume and further his legacy as one of this generation’s best defensemen. Unsurprisingly, shortly after accepting his award, his agent announced that the 33-year-old had requested a trade from the Sharks to a contender.
Despite his recent request, the most significant hurdle preventing Karlsson from finding a new home is his hefty contract, valued at $11.5 million over the next four seasons. Ultimately, finding a trade partner is tough because his deal would consume a huge chunk of his new team’s cap space. However, in a world where franchises are in a win-now mode, someone will pull the trigger and make something happen.
While the hockey community patiently waits for this trade news to break, here’s a breakdown of the pretenders and contenders to acquire the reigning Norris Trophy winner.
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Pittsburgh Penguins emerge as front runners for Erik Karlsson
After the 2022-23 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins witnessed the end of their 16-year playoff streak, the longest active run in North American sports. Even though they have a roster filled with future Hall of Famers like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, it was shocking to see the team come up short in the season’s final days.
As expected, the club cleaned house, replacing former general manager Ron Hextall and finding his replacement immediately in Kyle Dubas. Surprisingly, Dubas did not return to the Toronto Maple Leafs after five seasons and opted to sign with the Penguins instead. Ultimately, he wanted a new challenge in reconstructing a former championship team back into a winner.
Dubas has only been on the job for a few weeks, but he’s already been busy retooling the roster. If he can swing a deal to acquire Karlsson, the Penguins would see their odds of winning another Stanley Cup significantly improve. Even though the team’s core is around 35 years old, adding someone of Karlsson’s caliber enhances the group’s skills while providing invaluable leadership.
Although everything is just a rumor, don’t count out Dubas and the Penguins, as they remain one of the favorites to land Karlsson.
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Carolina Hurricanes want Karlsson to break through Conference Final
Statistically, the Carolina Hurricanes have not won a game in the Eastern Conference Final since July 1, 2006, getting swept in 2009, 2019, and 2023. Furthermore, since getting through the third round has become daunting, the Hurricanes have been busy in free agency, acquiring the league’s most coveted free-agent defenseman Dmitri Orlov and former All-Rookie Team player Michael Bunting.
Outside of re-signing their own players to new deals, Carolina’s management and coaching staff feel content with the current roster and believe they can bring the Stanley Cup back to Raleigh. However, they will not let a player like Karlsson go to a division or conference rival, so they also want in on the action.
Even though the Hurricanes have just over $3.3 million in cap space available, the team has draft picks to flip, plus prospects and other players to offer up in a deal. Despite having the second-best record in the league last year, the team came up short, and someone of Karlsson’s stature could be the difference-maker in the playoffs. Ultimately, Carolina is hungry for wins now and may be willing to sacrifice pieces of the future to get over the hump.
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Another contending team could sneak in and pull off a mega-deal
When Karlsson’s trade request broke, the first ramblings online came from people who thought he could return to the Ottawa Senators. Although he spent the first nine seasons of his career in Canada’s capital city, the team is still not on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup anytime soon. Even though they still need to include a few pieces to be true contenders, more than just Karlsson would be necessary to ensure their chances of success. So, unless he’s lying about being dealt to a contender or wishes to return home, we can safely rule out any possibility of a reunion.
However, another city in Canada is dying for a chance to take the next step and win their first title since 1990, the Edmonton Oilers. Thanks to the two best players in the game, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers are one player away from skating with the Stanley Cup and were previously in talks to acquire Karlsson at last year’s deadline. Considering they have $5.6 million in cap space if the team can find a way to shed an expensive contract while acquiring Karlsson, the Oilers would become one of the top teams to beat in the entire league.
Currently, only four teams in the NHL could afford to take on Karlsson’s contract with no financial issues at all, and those teams are the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, and Detroit Red Wings. Realistically, the Seattle Kraken could easily find room ($9.8 million) and are one of the surprise contenders for a deep playoff room.
Although some teams could split the contract with the Sharks, the rebuilding franchise will want to haul in a boatload of future capital to offset any money they retain. Considering it is only the beginning of the NHL offseason, Karlsson may not find a new home until training camp in September, when every team better understands their rosters and finances. However, whenever this deal takes place, it will send shockwaves through the hockey community.