“Rumor Roundup: Exploring the Latest Possible Destinations for Erik Karlsson If Traded by the Sharks”
Updated potential landing spots for Sharks’ Erik Karlsson amid NHL trade rumors
0 out of 5
- Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The San Jose Sharks could be one of the most intriguing teams to watch as the NHL’s March 3 trade deadline approaches.
Nearing the bottom of the Western Conference and looking like a team in need of a rebuild, they could be big sellers with two of the biggest names that could be available.
Forward Timo Meier – a pending restricted free agent – seems available for the right price, while veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson could also be on the trading block if the Sharks look to kickstart a rebuild.
If San Jose part ways with Karlsson, it could be a massive and complicated deal.
He has an annual salary cap of $11.5 million for the next four full seasons and the ability to control where he goes with a no-trade clause. This cap hit and Karlsson’s leverage will certainly limit the number of realistic options.
But any team that can find a way to fulfill their contract should be prepared to explore all options. Despite being in his season at 32, Karlsson has re-established himself as one of the league’s elite players and is having a historically great season on offense. He wants to become the first defender in 31 years to surpass 100 points. He would impress any contender.
That too could make a trade tempting for Karlsson. The only thing he hasn’t done in his career is win a Stanley Cup and he probably won’t get that opportunity with San Jose. If he wants to take what might be his best shot while still playing at the elite level, a trade is the way to go.
With that in mind, here’s an updated look at a few teams that make sense as potential landing spots for Karlsson.
buffalo saber
1 out of 5
- Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images
Why not start with something wild but also insanely fun?
Karlsson might not make the Buffalo Sabers a Stanley Cup team this season — they’re not even a suspension to reach the playoffs — but what a shot in the arm that would be for Buffalo.
The Sabers have taken a leap forward this season, propelling themselves into the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race. They’re also swimming in the salary cap realm and are one of the few teams that could fit Karlsson under the cap with relative ease. Buffalo has money off the books with Kyle Okposo, Zemgus Girgensons and Craig Anderson awaiting unrestricted free agents, and it has one of the deepest potential pools in the league to trade from.
A deal for Karlsson would give the Sabers a nightmare of a defense given the already in place Rasmus Dahlin and No. 1 overall 2018 and 2021 Owen Power, as well as the incredibly underrated Mattias Samuelsson.
The Sabers have been an afterthought in the NHL for more than a decade. You have a chance to change that in the near future.
Be brave.
A Karlsson swap would not only be this season. However, he could make a big difference in a year or two.
Seattle Kraken
2 out of 5
- Christopher Mast/NHLI via Getty Images
The Seattle Kraken have quickly become serious contenders in the Western Conference, and it looks like the playoffs are just around the corner.
There’s a lot to like about this team and its depth, but the one thing it lacks is a difference maker and game changer. The one player that other teams are always held accountable for.
Rookie Matty Beniers appears to be on the way as a forward, but Seattle lacks that kind of punch on defense.
The unit is very good top to bottom with no glaring weaknesses but could still use a #1 player.
Karlsson is that player.
The Kraken would need to get creative to get Karlsson fit this season, sending money the other way and getting San Jose to keep some, but they have a prospective Cap spot next season with 16 players under contract of $19.3 million. That’s manageable.
Karlsson would also be a key addition for a power play ranked 20th in the NHL.
Dallas Stars
3 out of 5
- Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Dallas Stars were one of the teams reportedly interested in Karlsson a few years ago when he was traded from the Ottawa Senators to the Sharks and they should re-investigate him.
Dallas already have one of the best teams in the league but could use an upgrade on the right side of their defense.
Karlsson would also give the Stars a dominant double hit on the blue line with Miro Heiskanen.
From a hockey standpoint, that would be a great fit, based on need and because Dallas are clearly trying to add an important piece.
The problem would be the salary cap, as well as the Stars’ empty closet of 2023 draft picks, having already traded their first- and third-round picks.
Could they get something working if San Jose keeps the salary and takes a trade package with lots of prospects?
Could Dallas bring in a third team to absorb even more salary?
It would take creativity, but when you have a chance to win a Stanley Cup, you don’t want to let the opportunity pass you by. Especially since the Western Conference is as open as this season.
Winnipeg Jets
4 out of 5
- Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images
There’s a lot to like about this Winnipeg Jets team.
Connor Hellebuyck is one of the best goalkeepers in the league. When he’s at the peak of his game, not many can match him. And he was on his game.
The Jets also have a great collection of quality forwards in Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele.
Josh Morrissey also had a breakthrough season to finally give them a No. 1 defender.
But that blue line could use some help, and Karlsson would certainly provide that.
Now would also be a great time for the Jets to try.
They came out of the All-Star break with the third-best scoring average in the Western Conference and have quietly made themselves a contender again. Like Dallas, Winnipeg needs to realize its window is open and make a serious effort to slam shut.
A blue line with Karlsson, Morrissey and Neal Pionk would add a lot of offensive firepower, especially behind this group of forwards.
Edmonton oiler
5 out of 5
- Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This situation would be perfect and would make a lot of sense – if there weren’t two significant obstacles.
The first obstacle is the salary cap, as the Edmonton Oilers already have a handful of big-money players at the top of their roster and don’t have much cap flexibility. But there’s always a way around that, especially at the close of trade, and we’ve seen it time and time again with teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights. If there’s a player you want, you can get it.
The second — and more problematic — impediment might be that general manager Ken Holland never seems to fully understand the schedule he’s working on and that the Oilers now have to go all out to win. He’s been slow at making impact trades and that has to stop.
Players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl don’t come by often, and when they do, their primes are short. You must do everything in your power to field the best team possible each season.
The only thing this team lacks is a #1 defender who can play big minutes and be a superstar.
Edmonton hoped Darnell Nurse would be that player, but he hasn’t repeated his performance from the 2020-21 season that earned him his big contract.
He’s a good player, but the Oilers could use another Impact player on this defense.
Can you imagine Karlsson on the power play with McDavid and Draisaitl? An already unstoppable unit would get even better. This trio would be incredible to watch even during a five-a-side game.
The Oilers have done McDavid and Draisaitl a disservice for many years. The addition of Karlsson would be a big step in changing that.
Salary cap information via CapFriendly.
Source: bleacherreport.com
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