Insider Links Erik Karlsson To Eastern Conference Powerhouse in Potential Deadline Deal

Over the summer, rumours regarding Erik Karlsson and his future with the Pittsburgh Penguins were run daily, with many believing the three-time Norris Trophy winner's time in the NHL was coming to an end.

Through 11 games however, the Penguins are off to a red-hot start with a 7-2-2 record, with Karlsson putting up 9 points in that time as he continues to show that at 35-years of age, he's still got plenty left in the tank.

On the latest edition of the DFO Rundown, Insider David Pagnotta has dropped a bombshell however, noting that there were teams interested in Karlsson over the summer, with one being the Carolina Hurricanes, a team that may once again have interest in him.

It's unclear at this point whether that was simple speculation from Pagnotta or whether or not the Carolina Hurricanes have expressed interest once again early in the year, but with the Penguins rolling given their current roster setup, they may not be wanting to move the veteran.

For now though, Karlsson is an interesting name to keep an eye on, and if the prices continue to soar in trade returns like we saw at the deadline last season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see many teams beyond Carolina interested in him.