Options Dwindling for Erik Karlsson Trade, Per The Athletic
Photo credit: Pittsburgh Hockey Now
Erik Karlsson is one of the best defensemen in the NHL and had a large trade market, but as the offseason has progressed, some concerns have begun to develop regarding the suitors for him.
Currently, the Penguins are the only team in the NHL that is listed as the only seller in the NHL. Names like Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell have dominated trade bait lists and for good reason.
The Penguins certainly have a lot of suitors for these assets, but there is growing concern about their ability to trade Erik Karlsson, as teams who could have used him have filled in their holes.
It's just that the options have dwindled over the last couple of weeks. The Hurricanes may not have signed a clear Brent Burns replacement, but management may not want to take another massive swing on defense after acquiring (and signing) K'Andre Miller. The Panthers are out after extending Aaron Ekblad. The Senators should probably see what Jordan Spence has to offer before committing to Karlsson's contract. Vegas appears to be a better landing spot for Rasmus Andersson.
While these contenders for Karlsson have all seemed to have filled the holes they have, or have better options available, that still does not distract from the fact that Karlsson is an elite offensive defenseman who can pair up brilliantly alongside a shutdown partner.
The Senators could bring Karlsson back to play with Jake Sanderson, who complements Karlsson's style perfectly and could help Karlsson find his Norris form again. The Hurricanes have Jaccob Slavin, who insulated Brent Burns, Tony D'Angelo, and Dougie Hamilton throughout his career, and Karlsson's defensive woes would be covered.
While the market for Karlsson may be dwindling, GM Kyle Dubas will certainly do all in he can to ensure the Penguins get a great return for their current top defenseman.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 23 | 65 ANSWERS Options Dwindling for Erik Karlsson Trade, Per The Athletic Will the Penguins trade Erik Karlsson before the season starts? | ||
| Yes | 43 | 66.2 % |
| No | 22 | 33.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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