This trade is a massive win for the Penguins. The Pittsburgh Penguins DRAMATICALLY improved their defensive core by bringing in reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson in a big three-team trade!
I know Karlsson has a massive contract, but what were the Sharks thinking in their haul back for him?
The reigning Norris Trophy winner is heading for his third team as the Pittsburgh Penguins made the latest blockbuster deal with the San Jose Sharks and the Montreal Canadiens to bring in Erik Karlsson. And, even though I get trading Karlsson was never going to be easy, I just don’t see how this trade isn’t a massive win for the Penguins…and a massive loss for the Sharks.
For those who haven’t seen the trade yet, the Pittsburgh Penguins just acquired 2023 Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, Rem Pitlick, Dillon Hamaliuk, and San Jose’s 2026 3rd round pick from a mix between the San Jose Sharks and the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the Sharks getting Pittsburgh’s 2024 1st round pick (Top-10 protected), Marcus Granlund, Jan Rutta, and Mike Hoffman and the Canadiens getting Pittsburgh’s 2025 2nd round pick, Jeff Petry, Casey DeSmith, and Nathan Legare.
Quite the doozy of trade, right?
Well, even though over 12 pieces got moved around between three different teams, I don’t see how anyone could say the Sharks actually made out with a good deal on this trade.
Sure, the Sharks got the “big names” and the established veteran players out of the deal (along with a Top-10 protected 1st round pick), but when was the last time Marcus Granlund, Mike Hoffman, and Jan Rutta did anything special for a Stanley Cup contending team?
Mike Hoffman is a 33-year-old player who is not only coming off an 8-year low in points, but who’s also a player that only scored 10 goals and 34 points last season. And he’s a known goal scorer.
Jan Rutta had a massive drop off season with the Penguins last year after a successful stint in Tampa Bay (2018-2022) as he only scored 9 points (scored 18 two years ago with the Bolts), had a +/- rating of +3 (had a +/- rating of +25 with the Bolts), and only suited up in 56 games due to injury and other ailments.
Meanwhile, Marcus Granlund had an even worse year than both of these players…as he hasn’t played a minute in the NHL since the 2019-20 season. So, of all the assets the Sharks received, only the 2024 1st round pick from the Penguins, which has Top-10 protections on it to essentially make it worthless to own in the 2024 draft, is the only valuable piece in their entire trade haul for the reigning Norris Trophy winner.
Does that sound like competent GMing to you?
Now, one might point out that the Canadiens didn’t really receive all that much either with them getting a 35-year-old Jeff Petry, a 2025 2nd round pick, Casey DeSmith, and Nathan Legare, but they are only involved in this deal to hold some salary.
Giving up Rem Pitlick, who kind of underperformed last year with only 9 goals and 15 points after a career year two seasons ago, might be a tough pill to swallow for some Habs fans, but they were able to dish off Mike Hoffman’s salary, bring back Jeff Petry, bring in a capable backup goalie in Casey DeSmith, and acquire a 2nd round pick for holding some cap space for a few years. Sounds like good business to me.
And, as for the Penguins, they just added a MASSIVE boost to their blue line in Erik Karlsson as if they can pair him up with the right defenseman, Karlsson could easily score another 80-100 points next season. We saw last year that so long as Karlsson has the appropriate role (aka: sole leader of the powerplay and offense from the blue line) and defensive partner (rugged, stay-at-home defender), Karlsson can be the best defender in the league as he’s done twice in his career thus far.
And this is a Penguins team who already has Kris Letang, Ryan Graves, and Marcus Petterson on the blue line to help fill the defensive void Karlsson leaves behind when he goes forward on attack.
Maybe this deal ends up souring in a few years given Karlsson is making $11.5M for the next four seasons (and is already 33 years old), but I seriously see the Penguins being playoff contenders again next year if Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, and all of their other offseason additions (Rielly Smith, Rem Pitlick, etc.) can have one more productive season.
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