One of the Flyers' division rivals added a huge piece to its back end.
Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson is headed to the Metropolitan Division. Now, the Philadelphia Flyers' cross-state rival could be in position to compete for another Stanley Cup.
But it could come at a cost.
Sunday morning, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Montreal Canadiens.
On top of Karlsson, the Penguins also acquired Rem Pitlick, Dillon Hamaliuk, and a 2026 third-round pick in the deal.
The Penguins parted ways with several players and key assets in the trade, shipping Mikael Granlund, Jan Rutta, and their 2024 first-round pick to San Jose while sending Jeff Petry, Casey DeSmith, Nathan Legare, and a 2025 second-round pick to Montreal.
Karlsson has four years remaining on his contract, which carries an annual cap hit of $11.5 million. The Sharks are retaining $1.5 million of his salary until his contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season.
With Karlsson in Pittsburgh, it's clear the Penguins are swinging for the fences with hopes of competing for another Stanley Cup as Sidney Crosby (35), Evgeni Malkin (37), and Kris Letang (36) enter the twilight of their careers.
Karlsson, 33, isn't exactly a spring chicken either, but he is coming off one of the greatest offensive campaigns ever recorded by defenseman in NHL history. Karlsson exploded for 25 goals and 101 points while appearing in all 82 games for the Sharks last season. He's the first NHL defenseman to post 100-plus points in a season in over 30 years. New York Rangers legend Brian Leetch was the last to accomplish the feat back in 1992.
With Karlsson in the fold, the Penguins boast perhaps the most star-studded roster in the NHL. Karlsson, Crosby, Malkin, and Letang combine for a whopping 29 All-Star nominations by themselves. But while the Penguins own several of the biggest names in hockey, they're also in position to enter the 2023-24 season with one of the oldest rosters in the NHL.
Currently, the Penguins own just 11 selections in the next two drafts combined. For reference, the Nashville Predators owned 13 selections in the lead-up to the 2023 NHL Entry Draft alone.
The Penguins are banking on winning another Cup with their veteran core still intact, but given their lack of young talent and cap flexibility, they're likely to experience a rapid regression in the not-too-distant future.
The Flyers are set to face off against Karlsson and the Penguins on December 2, December 4, January 8, and February 25.