Last week, we covered growing rumors that the Pittsburgh Penguins were pursuing a trade for San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson, the 2023 Norris Trophy winner. Today, The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported some new details on the Penguins’ Karlsson chase, writing “the Penguins were extremely close to landing Karlsson on July 1” and that “a deal was close to being completed that morning.” (subscription link) It’s long been speculated that a third team would be necessary for the Penguins to be able to absorb Karlsson’s cap hit, so it’s possible that this reported deal fell through due to cap-related considerations.
Given just how difficult moving money between teams has been due to the flat-cap environment, it’s no surprise Karlsson remains on the Sharks’ roster nearly two full weeks after that deal was nearly completed. What Yohe’s report indicates, though, is that the Penguins are earnest in their efforts to acquire Karlsson and that the possibility he joins Kris Letang and Ryan Graves on Pittsburgh’s blueline is more realistic than some might think.
Some other notes from across the hockey world:
- The Columbus Blue Jackets announced this morning that assistant coach Kenny McCudden has departed the organization. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen issued a statement that added some clarity to the situation. McCudden was entering the final year of his contract and was slated to work on new head coach Mike Babcock’s staff. In his statement, Kekalainen indicates McCudden had a “desire to either sign a contract extension or look at other opportunities,” while Kekalainen’s preference is that “everyone [on the coaching staff] gets to know each other before deciding on extensions.” So, with those two opposing preferences laid out, McCudden’s departure seems to have been the natural outcome. Now he will seek other opportunities after coaching for eight seasons in Columbus and helping contribute to what was arguably the most successful period in franchise history under former head coach John Tortorella.
- Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rinat Valiev has been traded in the KHL. According to the KHL’s Admiral Vladivostok, Valiev has been acquired by Ak Bars Kazan, his former club, for monetary compensation. Valiev, 28, left North American pro hockey after the 2019-20 season and didn’t play in 2020-21. He spent 2021-22 mostly with Ak Bars Kazan, skating in two games for their KHL team and 23 games in the VHL, the league below the KHL. Valiev signed a two-year deal with Vladivostok in advance of 2022-23 but played in just 18 games this past season and just two in the 2023 calendar year. He’s been sent back to Ak Bars Kazan and will hope to feature more regularly in their KHL lineup in 2023-24.
Unless they can find a third team, the Karlsson to PGH trade probably has to wait until after Drew O’Connor’s arbitration hearing. They can buy out Granlund then and only have to find a taker for Petry instead of both.
Given how much both EK and Brent Burns struggled when on the same team, Carolina’s pursuit doesn’t seem to make much sense.
It’s sad when teams try to deny Father Time; Pittsburgh should be mapping out a post-Crosby future (should have let Malkin walk) and not force a futile last push for pride & cash now. They may extend the mushy middle for a few years but in the end they’ll have to do what the Blackhawks & Kings have done… the LA example is the way to go.
Map out the post-Crosby future plan.
Was it the “the Pens are old and not good enough to win so they should get younger but not better and lock in mediocrity for much longer” let Malkin walk for Trocheck and Letang walk for Klingberg plan?
Also, the Kings didn’t have some master plan to rebuild on the fly…Richards and Stoll got busted for blow and the bottom fell out on them.
So when you say the LA plan, what you mean keep your best 2-3 players and bottom out to a bottom 5 team for 4yrs?
LA was a horrible team, that’s why they have so many top 5 and top 10 picks
Even if I shared your thought of rebuilding the Penguins right now: The cost of shipping out all those contracts would be horrendous. They’ll need to attach picks and prospects just to find suitors for all those contracts. And even if they manage to do that, they’d have zero prospects to start a rebuild.
They better should make use of their veterans and try and push as long as they have them. After that they can think about rebuilding. Hell, this route could even be faster because they are not losing draft capital for shipping out vereran contacts.
“so it’s possible that this reported deal fell through due to cap-related considerations.”
Maybe you should have read the rest of the mailbag because he further said that the Pens thought the deal was done and the Sharks asked for more at the last minute.
Karlsson has never been that last piece that a serious contender needs to close the deal, I’m amazed at all the attention he’s gotten this summer. It won’t end well for the team that acquires him but it will be entertaining to watch. I sincerely hope that Pittsburgh has that AARP advertisement on the front of there jerseys this season.
So Dubas leaves Toronto cap strapped and goes to a Pittsburgh team that is already cap strapped and he wants to keep them in cap hell even longer. But I thought Dubas was supposed to be this cap genius.