Who the Penguins Added Alongside Erik Karlsson
Erik Karlsson wasn't the only useful piece added by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The trade of the summer finally happened as the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired three-time Norris Trophy winning defenseman Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.
It was a three-team deal that involved the Penguins, Sharks, and Montreal Canadiens with nine players on the move.
While Mikael Granlund, Jeff Petry, Jan Rutta, Casey DeSmith, and prospect Nathan Legare all depart Pittsburgh, the Penguins did pull in more than just Karlsson.
Who else will join the Penguins’ organization and what can they bring?
Rem Pitlick
At 26-years-old, Rem Pitlick is looking for some stability in the NHL, and he just might find it with the Penguins.
At one point a top prospect in the Nashville Predators organization, Pitlick arrives in Pittsburgh from Montreal and will immediately be thrown into the battle for depth forward positions.
Pitlick has the ability to play just about any forward position and specializes in offense over defense, which might be a nice touch to the Penguins’ bottom-six.
Kyle Dubas built a brand new bottom-six for the Penguins, but it had a strong focus on defense, and not a lot of scoring punch.
Perhaps Pitlick can crack a role in the bottom-six, and add an element of offense to the depth; maybe he even starts the season in Jake Guentzel’s spot on the first line as he recorvers from ankle surgery?
Pitlick has played 123 career games at the NHL level and recorded 54 total points.
His best season came in 2021-22, where he played 66 games and picked up 37 points with the Minnesota Wild and Canadiens.
Pitlick has one year left on his contract that earns him $1.1 million against the salary cap.
Dillon Hamaliuk
The other player coming to the Penguins’ organization is Dillon Hamaliuk, an aging prospect who bounced between the AHL and ECHL in the Sharks system the last few years.
Yet to make a debut in the NHL, Hamaliuk is a 22-year-old forward who can offer more depth for the Penguins’ farm system.
Hamaliuk has one year left on his contract and he will likely sit in the Penguins system all season.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1B9t-F0I04[/embed]
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins