Interesting trade.
Penguins gain Karlsson and lose Petry (he was their #2 defenseman by minutes played/game last season), Rutta (#6 D by minutes played/game), Granlund (41pts last year but only 5 in his 21 games for Pit. He won’t be missed), DeSmith (pretty good backup G) and a 1st.
Retaining $1.5M on Petry for 2yrs wipes out the $1.5M San Jose is retaining on Karlsson for the next 2 years but the Penguins still come out with $3.1M more cap space for this season.
I think Pittsburgh is better from this trade, especially if Karlsson plays like he did last season.
San Jose gains a 1st, 2 mediocre veteran forwards and a mediocre veteran defenseman. It adds depth this season and San Jose might be able to get a couple/few mid/late picks if they’re able to flip them over the next 2 deadlines. They actually took on an extra 2.4M in cap for this season, but will gain that cap space back over the next 2 years and then $10M in cap space the following 2 years. This trade makes them worse, but opens up cap space next year and beyond and gives them an extra 1st in the next draft plus whatever mid/late picks they might get from the other players included. Not a great return but the flat cap has made it very hard to move big contracts.
Montreal made out pretty well. They get a 2nd, Petry at 25% retained, DeSmith (a good backup G who had a down year in ‘22 but still put up a sv% as good as any Sabres goalie (.905) and has a .912 career sv%) and a depth prospect while giving up Hoffman and Pitlick. They gave up $5.6M in cap hits and gained $6.4M back between Petry and DeSmith.
I actually think both Petry and DeSmith are probably more useful pieces than the players San Jose got back. Though I expect Montreal to look at trading Petry.