Kyle Dubas Makes Strong Statement on Erik Karlsson Ahead of Trade Deadline
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Kyle Dubas is reportedly all ears on trading Erik Karlsson, as the Penguins GM was quoted saying he would trade his star defenseman in a heartbeat.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson is reportedly on the trade block ahead of the 2025 NHL deadline.
The Athletic's Josh Yohe reports that, per a team source, general manager Kyle Dubas would trade Karlsson "in a heartbeat" if he could.
An Eastern Conference executive also informed Yohe that Karlsson is indeed available, but that Pittsburgh may need to retain salary in order to facilitate a trade.
Karlsson, who is under contract through 2026-27 at a $11.5 million cap hit, has $1.5 million annually retained by the San Jose Sharks. His complete no-move clause, which he waived to join the Penguins in 2023, remains in place.
Dubas acquired Karlsson in his first major move as GM in the hopes that the former Norris Trophy winner could infuse life into a veteran core that features Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.
Karlsson's production has taken a nose dive in Pittsburgh
Karlsson, however, has been unable to replicate his offense, scoring 11 goals and 45 assists last season while being a part of Pittsburgh's ongoing defensive issues.
Despite Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson being healthy for all 82 games, the Penguins missed the 2024 playoffs by a single point.
Sitting last in the Metropolitan Division, Dubas may be motivated to shed Karlsson's $11.5 million cap charge that takes up 13.1% of the team's 2024-25 payroll.
Karlsson's strong showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off can boost his trade value, and an upcoming $7.5 million salary cap increase in 2025-26 can make his contract easier to trade.
With Malkin's contract set to expire in 2026, there is growing pressure on Dubas to reshape the roster before the March 7 trade deadline.
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