In a three-way deal, San Jose trades Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh and acquires Mike Hoffman from Montreal
Former Ottawa Senator defenceman Erik Karlsson is on the move again. The San Jose Sharks traded the 33-year-old defenceman to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday in a three-way deal involving the Montreal Canadiens.
- Pittsburgh acquires Karlsson, forward Rem Pitlick, forward Dillon Hamaliuk and San Jose's 2026 third-round draft pick.
- Montreal acquires Pittsburgh's 2025 second-round draft pick, defenseman Jeff Petry, goaltender Casey DeSmith and forward Nathan Legare.
- San Jose acquires Pittsburgh's 2024 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected), forward Mikael Granlund, defenseman Jan Rutta and forward Mike Hoffman.
It's the second time San Jose has acquired Hoffman. In 2018 (as they did later that year with Karlsson), the Senators dealt Hoffman to the Sharks, but then they immediately flipped the speedy forward to the Florida Panthers.
After the infamous feud in Ottawa between Karlsson, Hoffman and their partners, not to mention them teaming up for one of the greatest goals in Senators' history, it's interesting to see the duo making headlines together again.
Karlsson is signed through the 2026-27 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $11.5 million. San Jose is retaining $1.5 million of his salary yearly.
For the third time in his career, Karlsson enters the new season as the reigning Norris Trophy winner, posting the first 100 point season by an NHL defenceman in over 30 years. Since leaving Ottawa, durability has been an issue for Karlsson but he looked as good as ever last season, skating like the Karlsson of old and playing in all 82 games.
After a 36-goal, 70 point season with Florida in 2019, Hoffman seemed to be emerging as a top player in the league, but his stock has fallen hard, first in St. Louis and then in Montreal. With the Habs last season, the 33-year-old had 14 goals and 34 points in 67 games.
Of course, in the 2017 NHL playoffs, Karlsson and Hoffman did have that one magical moment together. That perfect alley-oop pass from Karlsson and the Forsberg move from Hoffman.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlZ_EuE0Ks4[/embed]
Since taking over in Pittsburgh as president of hockey operations and general manager, Kyle Dubas has now acquired forward Reilly Smith and signed a number of free agents including forwards Lars Eller, Noel Acciari and Matt Nieto; defenceman Ryan Graves; and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.
But the Karlsson deal represents the former Leaf GM's first major swing for the fences in Steeltown.