At 34, Erik Karlsson can't be in his prime anymore, but he's still a commodity. The Pittsburgh Penguins would trade him "in a heartbeat," as reports have it, which makes him an attractive choice for teams seeking offense on the blue line.
A three-time Norris Trophy recipient, Karlsson remains one of the greatest power-play quarterbacks in the league with great even-strength numbers.
His 40 points rank 11th among NHL blueliners as of Tuesday and his solid play at the 4 Nations Face-Off proved he's still capable of thriving on the grand stage.
But he's not a good match for every club. His lack of defensive prowess is a minus, so he's best employed in a sheltered offensive spot.
His $10-million cap hit for the rest of his contract is another hurdle, although should Pittsburgh offer to cling to 50% may make him more palatable. And Karlsson's hard-sell no-movement clause has him in control over any deal.
Aside from that, he has to generate a lot of excitement, with three playoff clubs jumping out as potential fits right off the bat: the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Florida Panthers.
If Karlsson's willing to go, their GMs owe themselves a look to determine what can be arranged, and we will get more clarity over the next 10 days as the trade deadline draws nearer.
POLL | ||
FÉVRIER 26 | 217 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas Reportedly Wants to Trade Norris Trophy-Winning Defenseman Will Erik Karlsson be traded by the deadline? | ||
Yes | 145 | 66.8 % |
No | 72 | 33.2 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
LIVE
OCTOBER 22, 2025
| ||||
G | A | PTS | ||
Jack Quinn | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Ryan McLeod | - | 2 | 2 | |
Dawson Mercer | - | 2 | 2 | |
Conor Timmins | - | 2 | 2 | |
Zachary Bolduc | 1 | - | 1 | |
Matthew Boldy | 1 | - | 1 | |
Jesper Bratt | 1 | - | 1 | |
J.T. Compher | 1 | - | 1 | |
Paul Cotter | 1 | - | 1 | |
Brenden Dillon | 1 | - | 1 | |
Josh Doan | 1 | - | 1 | |
Emmitt Finnie | 1 | - | 1 | |
Arseny Gritsyuk | 1 | - | 1 | |
Adam Klapka | 1 | - | 1 | |
Tyson Kozak | 1 | - | 1 | |
Michael Matheson | 1 | - | 1 | |
Jason Zucker | 1 | - | 1 | |
Jonatan Berggren | - | 1 | 1 | |
Connor Brown | - | 1 | 1 | |
Zeev Buium | - | 1 | 1 | |
COMPLETE STATS |
2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
Red Wings | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 10 | |
Canadiens | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 10 | |
Panthers | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 8 | |
Maple Leafs | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
Bruins | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 6 | |
Senators | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
Sabres | 6 | 2 | 4 | - | 4 | |
Lightning | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
Devils | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 10 | |
Hurricanes | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 10 | |
Penguins | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 10 | |
Capitals | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 10 | |
Flyers | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
Rangers | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | |
Islanders | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 6 | |
Blue Jackets | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 6 | |
GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
Avalanche | 7 | 5 | - | 2 | 12 | |
Jets | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 10 | |
Mammoth | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 10 | |
Blackhawks | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
Blues | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
Wild | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
Stars | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 6 | |
Predators | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
Golden Knights | 7 | 5 | - | 2 | 12 | |
Canucks | 7 | 4 | 3 | - | 8 | |
Kraken | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
Ducks | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
Oilers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
Kings | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
Sharks | 6 | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
Flames | 7 | 1 | 6 | - | 2 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS |