NHL Trade Rumors: Erik Karlsson linked to Detroit Red Wings amid talks with Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL News
Trade talks between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins have become serious due to the inclusion of the name of defenseman Erik Karlsson. With the talks still ongoing, it is seemingly becoming more and more likely that this veteran defenseman will be granted a new environment before the coming NHL season. Both organizations sit at critical junctures: Detroit dreaming of ending a playoff drought, and Pittsburgh faced with an aging core and very tight salary cap flexibility. With Karlsson’s gigantic $92 million contract still intact, the salary retention by Pittsburgh might be what deters the deal, and might just also seal it.
Erik Karlsson could be the answer to the evolution of the Red Wings’ defense
Erik Karlsson, having won the Norris Trophy twice, is a veteran in the twilight of his career, but is still respected throughout the league. He showed that last year, recording 53 points, 11 of which were goals and averaging over 23 minutes of ice-time per game, showing his ability and stamina. Meanwhile, the Red Wings had trouble generating offense from the defensive end on a consistent basis. Their power play was good, yet on even strength, they were almost impotent offensively, and by the time they started to crack defensively, it had cost them a postseason ticket for this year.If Karlsson were to enter Detroit, he could take on a mentor role for up-and-coming talents Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson by instilling calm, excellent puck movement, and veteran leadership into the young and upward-moving defense corps. The team has already spurned a different direction in hiring Todd McLellan as its head coach, and with General Manager Steve Yzerman still handling the rebuild, might a trade for Karlsson indicate a transition from long-term planning to short-term window?Trading Karlsson may be more of a roster move for the Penguins. His $11.5 million cap hit is an onerous burden for a team that has failed to make the playoffs for a second straight year. Although Sidney Crosby is still producing, the roster as a whole offered little to back him up and to balance around him. The younger players never truly stepped up to their expectations, and the front office now has some harsh decisions to make about which direction it will take. Also Read: Why Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Justus Annunen are giving trouble to the Nashville PredatorsThough never written in stone, Karlsson trade rumors ever so strongly suggested the intentions of the two franchises: Detroit wishes to retool with mainly experienced talent, while Pittsburgh appears ready to shed some salary and prepare for a slight reset. The moment the trade passes through, it might very well rank among the deepest contours that will carve the NHL off-season for both franchises.
