Elliotte Friedman Sparks Karlsson Trade Speculation as Teams Eye Penguins Defenseman

This year's free agency didn't showcase as much available talent as last year, and some teams could still be looking to fill lineup holes ahead of the next season.

The trade market remains a viable option for those teams, but there are fewer sellers than buyers out there.

The Pens have some of the most sought-after veterans on the trade market and could decide to capitalize on that opportunity, as Elliotte Friedman and Josh Yohe recently stated:

Pierre LeBrun also shared details on Karlsson's situation in Pittsburgh, saying the defenseman would be open to waive his no-trade clause to join a top contending team, especially considering the long rebuild ahead for the Penguins:

Indeed, while many rumours stated that Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, and even Sidney Crosby could end up leaving the organization, a recent report from Elliotte Friedman suggested that teams could actually be interested in Erik Karlsson, even though he has struggled on the ice in recent seasons.

The 35-year-old veteran scored 53 points last season, just over half of what he scored two years ago with the struggling San Jose Sharks.

A deal involving Karlsson won't be an easy one to pull off. With his high salary and age, as well as his NTC, the defenseman could end up staying in Pittsburgh for the remainder of his deal or leaving to another organization for a likely underwhelming return.