Not many expected Erik Karlsson to still be a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins right now, yet here we are.
The star defenseman has moved around quite a bit throughout the latter half of his career, dealt twice in the last seven years, with expectations that he’d be traded for a third time this offseason.
Karlsson’s name was consistently atop trade target boards all summer long, as his desire to win no longer aligns with the state of the Penguins, who are rebuilding.
Despite all of the rumors and speculation, Karlsson went nowhere, and on Thursday, he spoke about the noise surrounding his future and was asked whether he thought he’d be back in Pittsburgh this season. Team reporter Wes Crosby shared some of his comments on X (formerly Twitter).
“No, I’m not. It was a quiet summer for me. Didn’t really hear much other than what I read from you guys and all the other people around the League, which is typical for the offseason,” Karlsson said.
“I know I’m in the position I’m in, but on my end it was a very quiet and relaxing summer. I was focused on the things I wanted to accomplish this summer, the mindset I wanted to have this season. That was always going to be here,” Karlsson added.
Erik Karlsson on if he’s surprised to still be with #Pens: “No, I’m not. It was a quiet summer for me. Didn’t really hear much other than what I read from you guys and all the other people around the League, which is typical for the offseason.”
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) September 18, 2025
The 35-year-old has two years remaining on the eight-year, $92 million contract he signed with the Sharks back in 2019. Pittsburgh pays him $10 million per season, while San Jose is still retaining $1.5 million stemming from the trade in 2023.
Karlsson could be in for a big season
It hasn’t worked out the way Erik Karlsson and the Penguins were hoping for during his first two years in Pittsburgh, though that could change in 2025-26.
The three-time Norris Trophy winner has been relatively productive as a Penguin, with 56- and 53-point seasons, respectively, but everyone involved knows there’s so much more to tap into.
Karlsson never seemed to find a fit in Mike Sullivan’s system, which forced the dynamic offensive blueliner to hold back, taking away from his biggest strengths. With new head coach Dan Muse now in charge, perhaps he’ll let Karlsson off the leash, allowing him to provide even more offense from the back end.
Pittsburgh certainly needs it, and with low expectations entering the season, it’s worth a shot to see what they can get out of the five-time all-star while he’s still around.
