Eight Teams Officially Linked to Erik Karlsson by The Athletic

Two years ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins landed Erik Karlsson with the hopes of igniting their blue line, but unfortunately, the three-time Norris Trophy winner hasn't found the level of success this team were looking for.

Despite having a cap hit of $11.5 million, with some retention, it's been expected that the team could find some buyers this summer on the veteran defenseman, but as of yet, we're yet to hear of anything happening behind the scenes.

Now, The Athletic have found eight potential fits for Karlsson this summer, naming Carolina, Florida, Ottawa, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Vegas, Boston and Vancouver as teams that could look to land the veteran star.

Even though he struggled overall, Karlsson still tallied 11 goals and 53 points, playing in 82 games for the third straight season, and given his history and his experience, he could be the perfect fit for a team looking to contend for the Stanley Cup.

It's unclear when exactly a deal could get done, as it's unlikely to happen by Friday's draft, but with so much interest in the veteran around the league, it appears as though a trade is picking up steam and could happen at some point this summer.

Ultimately, it's simply best for both sides if they move on at this point in time, and while Karlsson still has a lot to offer, it just doesn't make sense for a team that's missed the playoffs in three straight years, so expect to see something happen soon.