Erik Karlsson has been a prominent name in trade discussions, and with the Pittsburgh Penguins focused on reshaping their future, the veteran defenseman has now been connected to the Dallas Stars, a team once again aiming to make a deep run for the Stanley Cup.
The Penguins have made their intentions clear this season by acquiring 15 draft picks over the next three years, signaling their efforts to build a competitive team for the long term beyond the era of their core players—Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin. This strategy indicates that some big names might be leaving the team soon, and NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has suggested that Erik Karlsson, whom the Penguins obtained from the San Jose Sharks in the previous off-season, could be among those on the move.
Despite high expectations, things have not panned out as hoped for Karlsson in Pittsburgh. On a recent episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman speculated that a trade to the Dallas Stars could be a plausible destination for the 34-year-old defenseman. Though Karlsson still holds two more years on his contract with an $11.5 million salary cap hit, which may present some obstacles for any trade discussions, his performance this season—registering 40 points in 59 games—demonstrates that he is still capable of playing at a high level in the NHL.
Currently, the Stars are dealing with injuries, and their defense features players like Cody Ceci, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Matt Dumba on the right side. While Nils Lundqvist and Miro Heiskanen are expected to return to the lineup soon, it’s apparent that Dallas needs further assistance on the right side of their defense. If both the Penguins and Stars can figure out a way to manage Karlsson’s salary, the addition of the veteran blue liner could be a solution to their defensive needs and bolster their quest for a championship run.
