The Pittsburgh Penguins trade rumors have gone into overdrive. NHL insider Nick Kypreos suggested that three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson could be on the move this summer.
“The Penguins are just not a fit for Karlsson anymore as GM Kyle Dubas tries to find younger players and more picks to rebuild the Penguins on the fly while Sidney Crosby is still around,” Kypreos wrote in a June 2 Sportsnet story.
Now, Erik Karlsson trade rumors are nothing new. Karlsson was the subject of speculation while a member of the San Jose Sharks. Following his trade to Pittsburgh, however, Karlsson has struggled at times.
He registered 11 goals and 56 points in 82 games with the Penguins last season, a precipitous drop from his 101-point season Norris Trophy the Sharks in 2022-23.
This past season, Karlsson’s numbers continued to drop. He registered 11 goals and 53 points in 82 games. Also, Karlsson’s defensive game headed south. He went from a plus-4 in 2023-24 to a minus-24 in 2024-25.
That situation led Kypreos to place Karlsson on his Off-Season Trade Board. While nothing new, it seems like a trade could be real.
Karlsson has an $11.5 million cap this upcoming season. The Penguins on the hook for $10 million with the Sharks liable for the other $1.5 million.
Kypreos rationalized the situation by using Seth Jones as a comparable. When Jones landed with the Florida Panthers at this year’s trade deadline, Jones was able to turn his game around.
“The fact Seth Jones was traded to Florida this season and has shown everyone that he still has tremendous on-ice value in the right circumstance will help the Penguins,” Kypreos wrote. “Dubas will be pitching Karlsson in the same manner.”
West Coast Team Could Be Good Fit for Erik Karlsson Amid Penguins Trade Rumors
So, it’s tough to determine which teams could target Karlsson amid the latest Penguins Trade Rumors. But there’s one team that stands out in mind: The Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks have the cap space to pull off this trade and have the draft capital to make it work. The Ducks recently acquired Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers for a mid-tier prospect and a third-round pick.
That trade could be a comparable for Karlsson.
If the Ducks are willing to take Karlsson’s full cap hit off the Penguins’ hands, a couple of mid-round picks could grease the wheels. The Ducks have two fourth-round and two fifth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. A combination of picks could make this Penguins trade rumor seem realistic.
All told, the Ducks could pry Karlsson from the Penguins for a fourth and fifth-round pick. It might sound like a rock-bottom price to pay for the Swedish blue liner. But please bear in mind that it’s the Ducks who would be doing the Penguins a favor by taking Karlsson’s contract off their hands.
Why Karlsson Makes Sense for Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks have been tagged as a major player this offseason. As James Mirtle noted in The Athletic on June 9, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek will be whipping out the team’s checkbook to lure high-end players to the team.
Of course, Karlsson wouldn’t be a free agent signing. He would come via trade, but that move would signal the Ducks are serious about contending this upcoming season.
“Several folks pointed to Anaheim and GM Pat Verbeek wanting to make a big move or two to finally push the young club forward after seven consecutive years out of the playoffs,” Mirtle wrote. “The Ducks took a jump from 59 points to 80 this past season, and some of their kids (e.g. Leo Carlsson) seemed to figure things out more as the year went on.”
There’s another powerful reason why the Ducks would be comfortable with bringing Erik Karlsson into the fold. He has two years left on his current eight-year deal. If Karlsson proves to be a total wash for the Anaheim Ducks, they would only be on the hook for Karlsson’s cap hit for two seasons.
That’s not a bad gamble, considering the Ducks will be shedding Jacob Trouba’s cap hit at the end of this season.
Ultimately, this Penguins trade rumor has legs. The retooling Pens will be looking to open up cap space to potentially add around the fringes in hopes of making one last playoff run in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s final year together.
Penguins Trade Rumors Suggest 3-Time Norris Winner on Move: Insider