The Pittsburgh Penguins were said to be the only true sellers in the NHL this offseason. While they did trade away some pieces in Alex Nedeljkovic and Connor Timmins, it was far less eventful than many had anticipated.
Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust were three of the biggest names floating around the rumor mill this summer, though all currently remain Penguins. Karlsson, in particular, is no stranger to finding himself in trade talks, and just two years after acquiring him, Kyle Dubas appears willing to move on from the three-time Norris Trophy winner.
Because of that, Josh Wegman of The Score recently pitched deals for all of Pittsburgh’s trade chips, which included sending Karlsson to a Metropolitan Division foe in the Carolina Hurricanes.
Hurricanes receive: Erik Karlsson ($2 million retained)
Penguins receive: Shayne Gostisbehere, Felix Unger Sorum, 2026 first-round pick (top-10 protected), 2027 third-round pick
“Karlsson would be a major upgrade over Gostisbehere. The question the Hurricanes would have to answer is whether the upgrade is worth the acquisition cost. We say yes. Karlsson’s ceiling is so much higher, and he would help a power play that ranked 25th in the NHL a year ago and has often gone cold come playoff time. Getting him at $8 million per season for the final two years of his deal would carry little risk,” Wegman said.
“The first-round pick doesn’t project to be very high, as Carolina is a legitimate Cup contender, but it’s still a first-rounder. The Penguins could also flip Gostisbehere, who’s under contract for two more years at a team-friendly $3.2-million cap hit, for additional assets. Unger Sörum, a 5-foot-11 winger, is a slick playmaker with potential, even though he struggled as a rookie in the AHL last season,” Wegman added.
The now 35-year-old is coming off a respectable 53-point (11 goals, 42 assists) season while playing in all 82 games in 2024-25.
A Karlsson trade feels inevitable
Given his age and the current state of the Pittsburgh Penguins, it feels like a matter of when, not if, Erik Karlsson is once again on the move.
Wegman’s proposal here does make quite a bit of sense for both sides. The Hurricanes are certainly one of the few teams that can take on Karlsson’s contract and are a landing spot where the dynamic offensive defenseman could thrive.
From the Penguins’ perspective, acquiring a first-round pick is the ultimate goal. Adding a prospect, mid-round pick, and potentially valuable trade chip in Gostisbehere is all icing on the cake.
Karlsson will remain a name to watch moving forward, as his time in Pittsburgh is likely on its last legs.
