Proposal: Bouchard for Karlsson

[Three On Zero]

Neat. Doesn't change that there's zero chance the Penguins trade a likely top-5 pick plus Karlsson for Bouchard.

Just a badly thought out proposal.

Bouchard is pretty much everything Pittsburgh doesn’t need right now. Especially at the value of a lottery pick

 

[dgibb10]

...the point is that he wouldn't have that in Pitt; they don't have an Ekholm to babysit Bouchard (and Ekholm was just, if not more, important to the Oil's Cup run last year...he was incredible at both ends of the ice)...hence, Pitt doesn't do this trade because it doesn't move the needle for them to...unless, of course, Dubas does a Dubas and hurts his team even more...

Yes, bouchard and ekholm together have been the best pairing in hockey. You want to try and discredit one, instead of crediting both (because it takes more than 1 dman to do this).

 

[Djp]

No, he probably gets you more

Pittsburgh needs th o add 26 1st?????

 

[belair]

I don't think Pittsburgh should do this. But Dubas? Jury's still out on what that egghead is capable of.

Edmonton would absolutely do it, knowing how much of a fall Pittsburgh is likely to take in 2026. Bouchard ain't stopping that.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Yes, bouchard and ekholm together have been the best pairing in hockey. You want to try and discredit one, instead of crediting both (because it takes more than 1 dman to do this).

...I'm not "discrediting" anyone, bud; pointing out that Bouchard is an offensive juggernaut who is severely lacking in Defensive Acumen is not a secret nor is it "discrediting" him; it's just a fact...maybe put the Victim Complex aside for a moment...

 

[dgibb10]

...I'm not "discrediting" anyone, bud; pointing out that Bouchard is an offensive juggernaut who is severely lacking in Defensive Acumen is not a secret nor is it "discrediting" him; it's just a fact...maybe put the Victim Complex aside for a moment...

He clearly isn't that bad if by putting a defensive stalwart beside him you can get fantastic defensive results

 

[Barsky]

Pittsburgh needs th o add 26 1st?????

Didn't say that

 

[bucks_oil]

...OFFENSIVE Dmen in the League...without Ekholm to babysit his incredible daily defensive lapses, he ends up like Swedish Jesus did without Methot; a possible 100-point Dman with a +/- of Negative Infinity...that doesn't help win Cups, just ask San Jose...

Ok then...

I'm going to assume that you just didn't know - it is surprising. But rather than just disappear (like most posters) when presented with below, please review and explain how your statement could be true.

Last two seasons at 5v5	Expected Goal Share (xGF%)	Actual Goal Share (GF%)
Bouchard with Ekholm	61%	61%
Bouchard without Ekholm	61%	56%
Bouchard without McD & Drai	55%	54%
Bouchard without ALL THREE	60%	58%

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Bouchard is pretty much everything Pittsburgh doesn’t need right now. Especially at the value of a lottery pick

Yeah exactly. I’d obviously do this without the 1st but that said- I’m not sure what swapping Bouchard for Karlsson accomplishes for Pittsburgh.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Bouchard is pretty much everything Pittsburgh doesn’t need right now. Especially at the value of a lottery pick

Even if the trade was straight up, I bet it would look terrible for the Penguins once Karlsson rebounds to form due to not playing for Mike Sullivan and Bouchard's numbers crash due to playing for Mike Sullivan.

The Penguins would be paying Bouchard like $11 million a year with a full NMC to put up like 40 points for them as they're sitting in the basement of the league, while Karlsson would likely be putting up damn near 100 points again on the Oilers.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

He clearly isn't that bad if by putting a defensive stalwart beside him you can get fantastic defensive results

...you just answered yourself and the point in my post; he wouldn't have am Ekholm in Pitt and Pitt doesn't have the possession numbers that the Oil have...hence his fit in Pitt would be a net zero for them...

Ok then...

I'm going to assume that you just didn't know - it is surprising. But rather than just disappear (like most posters) when presented with below, please review and explain how your statement could be true.

Last two seasons at 5v5	Expected Goal Share (xGF%)	Actual Goal Share (GF%)
Bouchard with Ekholm	61%	61%
Bouchard without Ekholm	61%	56%
Bouchard without McD & Drai	55%	54%
Bouchard without ALL THREE	60%	58%

...again, you can't just take these "fancy stats" as gospel without looking into a number of other different contextual variables that round out the "complete story" of what Bouchard is and what he brings/what he lacks/what his team as a whole brings/what his team as a whole lacks/what said team trading for him requires/lacks/etc/etc/etc...or you end up doing what Dubas did in Toronto/what he's doing in Pitt...stats tell only part of the story, especially since most are severely contextual...so again, this trade makes no sense for Pitt...

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Sure why not.

Maybe trade Quinn Hughes for Kris Letang while you’re at it.

First thought is Bouchard isn’t in the same universe as Quinn Hughes… but then I remember that Vancouver series

 

[5 14 6 1]

This is a ridiculous proposal lol. Not a chance

 

[elmaco]

Lets make it better, Crosby for Evander Kane. Now that's a hockey trade on par with OP's proposal.

 

[Spawn]

...OFFENSIVE Dmen in the League...without Ekholm to babysit his incredible daily defensive lapses, he ends up like Swedish Jesus did without Methot; a possible 100-point Dman with a +/- of Negative Infinity...that doesn't help win Cups, just ask San Jose...

This is provably and demonstrably false regarding Bouchard. But have fun living in lala land.

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

Bouchard is pretty similar to Karlsson with the caveat that he’s hitting his prime and Karlsson is slowing down

This greatly benefits Pittsburgh and shortens Edmonton’s contending window without really changing their chances.

Even with the 1st added, Edmonton says no

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

This is provably and demonstrably false regarding Bouchard. But have fun living in lala land.

"...because I can cherry-pick a few highly contextual stats that say so!!"

 

[KrisLetAngry]

This just seems like a bad trade for both teams.

I get Bouchard is struggling compared to his great year last year.

I just don't think Penguins are in a position to give up the 2026 1st that has good lottery odds (look at our team bottom 5)

If we had a 3rd team involved where we get something else or if we don't give up that pick I could see something done.

I want to be clear Bouchard is worth more. Just doesn't make sense for Penguins to trade a top tier 1st when we will suck most of Bouchards prime.

 

[Cup or Bust]

...OFFENSIVE Dmen in the League...without Ekholm to babysit his incredible daily defensive lapses, he ends up like Swedish Jesus did without Methot; a possible 100-point Dman with a +/- of Negative Infinity...that doesn't help win Cups, just ask San Jose...

I am an Oilers fan and agree with you. He would get absolutely caved in if he played on a weaker team. Imagine if someone like Quinn Hughes got to play with Ekholm and with McDavid 5 on 5, and on the Oilers powerplay? 100 points a season, better defensively, harder working, way better skater. If I was the Oilers I would trade him. No way I would pay him 9 or 10 million a season. Completely one dimensional player.

 

[Fatass]

Could see Pittsburgh doing this without the pick added.
Bouchard for EK (retention)

 

[Three On Zero]

Yeah exactly. I’d obviously do this without the 1st but that said- I’m not sure what swapping Bouchard for Karlsson accomplishes for Pittsburgh.

They get younger but that’s it. Both offensive defenceman with big defensive warts.

 

[FlameChampion]

First thought is Bouchard isn’t in the same universe as Quinn Hughes… but then I remember that Vancouver series

Yeah. As frustrating as Bouchard can be, hes also been extremely good in the playoffs over multiple years. Its kind of a weird one. With his game you might expect he would get exposed when the stakes matter but in reality its the opposite.

 

[Three On Zero]

This just seems like a bad trade for both teams.

I get Bouchard is struggling compared to his great year last year.

I just don't think Penguins are in a position to give up the 2026 1st that has good lottery odds (look at our team bottom 5)

If we had a 3rd team involved where we get something else or if we don't give up that pick I could see something done.

I want to be clear Bouchard is worth more. Just doesn't make sense for Penguins to trade a top tier 1st when we will suck most of Bouchards prime.

The 1st is far more valuable to Pittsburgh than getting a younger offensive defenceman. Karlsson is still producing at a similar pace with an aging Crosby and Malkin. Lateral move defensively does not warrant a top lottery pick.

 

[jeffff]

First off...you owe me some coffee because I just spit it all over my computer screen.

Bouchard just came scoring the 3rd most pts in the history of NHL during last years playoffs. Most assists ever!! EKs best is 49th on that same list....9 years ago. Klingberg is 20th, 5 years ago....we just picked him up for free!!

Offensive dman aren't defensive dman. It blows my mind that some don't understand that concept. It is also infinitely easier to be a great defensively than offensively.

In what world is Bouchard worth a 1st and E fukn Karlsson lmfao

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

I am an Oilers fan and agree with you. He would get absolutely caved in if he played on a weaker team. Imagine if someone like Quinn Hughes got to play with Ekholm and with McDavid 5 on 5, and on the Oilers powerplay? 100 points a season, better defensively, harder working, way better skater. If I was the Oilers I would trade him. No way I would pay him 9 or 10 million a season. Completely one dimensional player.

...the flipside is that he is worth that to the Oilers right now, while their window is open...there just aren't many defensemen out there with Bouchard's offensive talent and cannon of a shot...take that away and, even if they could find another offensive RD, does that player bring what Bouchard does to the table??...the kid might have the best slapper since Weber; that's a helluva weapon in itself and keeps defenses & goalies on their toes...