Karlsson's Future in Pittsburgh Revealed by Penguins Insider Josh Yohe
Veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson's time in Pittsburgh appears to coming to an end, and now, Insider Josh Yohe has revealed when he believes that end will arrive.
The Pittsburgh Penguins appear ready to move on from Erik Karlsson, as the team just hasn't been as competitive as they would have hoped when they acquired him two summers ago.
Over the past few weeks, speculation around his name has increased immensely, with Elliotte Friedman linking the 34-year old star to several teams as a potential trade target ahead of the deadline.
However, NHL Insider Josh Yohe with The Athletic has now all but confirmed a trade of Karlsson will not happen until the summer, as the rising salary cap will give Pittsburgh more potential trade partners, making it the best business move for them.
«An NHL team executive also told me he believes Karlsson is more likely to be dealt this summer, when the salary cap has risen dramatically. At that point, the executive said, teams will be more likely to take on the majority of Karlsson's bulky contract.
One way or another, it seems unlikely that Karlsson will play out his contract in Pittsburgh. The Penguins view a very small list of players as being unmovable. Karlsson is most certainly not one of them.»
One way or another, it seems unlikely that Karlsson will play out his contract in Pittsburgh. The Penguins view a very small list of players as being unmovable. Karlsson is most certainly not one of them.»
Given the rising salary cap, this strategy makes perfect sense for the Penguins, as they'll have more interest from playoff teams once free agency and the rising cap is figured out, with Yohe all but confirming Karlsson will not see the end of his deal with the Penguins.
With 40 points in 59 games this season, Karlsson can still clearly be an offensive threat, and although he's no longer the Norris Trophy caliber player we once saw, it's safe to say that in the right environment, he can still be a major contributor at the NHL level.
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