Erik Karlsson could bring immediate help to the Pittsburgh Penguins blue line

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in desperate need of a revamped defense, but does a former (and possibly future) Norris Trophy winner fit the bill?

Does a connection between the Erik Karlsson and the Penguins even exist?

According to Elliote Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Kyle Dubas had previously been linked to the Karlsson as the San Jose Sharks were looking to deal him at the 2023 NHL trade deadline.

A deal was never completed between Dubas’ former team the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Sharks, but Friedman is curious if the connection might still be there.

It’s highly unlikely considering the amount of money is earning against the salary cap ($11.5 million for another four seasons) but it’s fair to say Karlsson would bring immediate help.

Karlsson is a 33-year-old veteran defenseman who is coming off of one of the biggest resurgent seasons the NHL has ever seen.

In all 82 games played in the 2022-23 season, Karlsson posted 25 goals and 76 assists for 101 points; the first defensemen to post 100 points since Brian Leech scored 102 in 1991-92.

The Penguins are already carrying around a defensive log jam with more NHL-ready blueliners than can fit on a roster, but a deal involving Karlsson would presumably take one or two off of the books.

At that price tag, the Penguins would also need the Sharks to retain some of that contract; sure, the Penguins have enough cap space to make it work straight up, but Dubas has the rest of the team to build.

Karlsson may have put up 101 points in 2022-23, but he’s been nowhere near that kind of production since joining the Sharks in 2018.

There is no telling what kind of player Karlsson will be for the final four years of his contract, but the Sharks are willing to put him on a winning team.

The idea of Karlsson sharing a defensive group with fellow veteran right-shot defenseman Kris Letang is far fetched, but Dubas might want to make a splash right away with his new organization.

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