Proposal: CAR-PIT

[CheckingLineCenter]

Carolina gets:

EK65 @ 50% retained

Pens get:

Ghostibere
Prospect

What prospect makes this work? Can we get Badinka? If not I think I’d like a 2nd/3rd pick back instead.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

If we're not getting a 1st + for Karlsson (not necessarily those exact pieces, but value that's at least a 1st), there's no reason to move him. Unless he asks for a trade, that is.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

I don't know about the value, but in terms of what pieces are on the trade block and what makes sense in terms of the roster...

to Carolina Hurricanes
ERIK KARLSSON (50% retained)

to Pittsburgh Penguins
Scott Morrow (NHL-ready waiver exempt RHD)


If one team isn't paying enough, you can add a draft pick, and/or have both teams add a 2025 pick so that one team is moving up in the draft and one team is moving down.

Slavin - Karlsson
Nikishin - Chatfield
Gostisbehere - Walker
7D = UFA on a 1 year deal
callup = Heimosalmi

( UFA ) - Letang
Shea - Morrow
Graves - Timmins / Kolyachonok / St. Ivany
7D = Timmins / Kolyachonok / St. Ivany
callup = Pickering

 

[Jacob]

At 50% retention I'd ask for Morrow & a 1st... but if they want to go down to like 30% retention I'd take Morrow and maybe a 2nd.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

At 50% retention I'd ask for Morrow & a 1st... but if they want to go down to like 30% retention I'd take Morrow and maybe a 2nd.

Ya I’d say something around this is fair

 

[Chan790]

I hope the Canes just aren't interested in EK.

 

[De Montreal]

Does he move the needle for Carolina? I agree they need to change some things up but Karlsson and Gostisbhere are producing at the same rate at this point of their career

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'd be shocked if they could get a prospect on par with Morrow for Karlsson. I'd love it but I just can't see Carolina doing that based on their past trades.

I think a realistic trade would be something like Gostisbehere, Forsmark and a 2026 2nd for Karlsson at $5 million. The value doesn't look all that great for the Penguins but I'm skeptical he really brings back better than that.

Does he move the needle for Carolina? I agree they need to change some things up but Karlsson and Gostisbhere are producing at the same rate at this point of their career

Karlsson produces significantly more and drives play significantly more at 5v5 than Gostisbehere does. Gostisbehere is a great PPQB but Karlsson's 5v5 impact is orders of magnitude better.

 

[orby]

Something around Morrow for Karlsson with significant salary retention makes a lot of sense for the Penguins. I am not sure if Carolina would do it.

 

[BrookswasHere44]

I'd be shocked if they could get a prospect on par with Morrow for Karlsson. I'd love it but I just can't see Carolina doing that based on their past trades.

I think a realistic trade would be something like Gostisbehere, Forsmark and a 2026 2nd for Karlsson at $5 million. The value doesn't look all that great for the Penguins but I'm skeptical he really brings back better than that.



Karlsson produces significantly more and drives play significantly more at 5v5 than Gostisbehere does. Gostisbehere is a great PPQB but Karlsson's 5v5 impact is orders of magnitude better.

I guess I don't particularly see the point in trading him if that's the return

 

[Empoleon8771]

I guess I don't particularly see the point in trading him if that's the return

Because you're not going to get better than that for him and there's no point in keeping him on the roster with the team rebuilding/retooling.

I'd love to see him bring back more but I'm going in with very low expectations at this point.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

agree they need to change some things up but Karlsson and Gostisbhere are producing at the same rate at this point of their career

Difference is where it’s coming from. EK is producing more at ES. Also just in terms of impact (I am not a Ghost hater) I think EK is just a different level than Ghost and at 50% retention their cap hits are almost a wash.

I think at $5M playing with the best partner of his career he’s a worthwhile gamble. I’m just curious what a fair return is. There’s likely only one or zero other teams in the hunt for his services given his NMC which I think will seriously limit the return.

 

[Chrispy]

The basis makes sense, but with Carolina opening up $31M in cap space this offseason (more if they buy out or move Kotkaniemi), I think the Canes would probably be interested in a lower retention for less return.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The basis makes sense, but with Carolina opening up $31M in cap space this offseason (more if they buy out or move Kotkaniemi), I think the Canes would probably be interested in a lower retention for less return.

Tbh I wonder if you could make a move with Karlsson that involves them taking back Kotkaniemi to get Morrow back. I don't think Carolina would ever consider Morrow for Karlsson straight up, but would they consider it if it also includes them getting out of Kotkaniemi's deal?

Something like Gostisbehere, Kotkaniemi and Morrow for Karlsson with less retention as the basis. That's about $8 million out for Carolina, so the Penguins could retain less on Karlsson's deal to have it an even cap swap. Morrow is a better individual piece than Karlsson would ever bring back on his own. If Carolina would rather keep Gostisbehere, I wouldn't put up a fight there either.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

This is dumb. Let's see what EK65 looks like under a new regime, with a new system, minus the horrific shitshow of a defensive system from the previous regime.

Boost his value. Profit later, one way or another.

 

[wetcoast]

I'd be shocked if they could get a prospect on par with Morrow for Karlsson. I'd love it but I just can't see Carolina doing that based on their past trades.

I think a realistic trade would be something like Gostisbehere, Forsmark and a 2026 2nd for Karlsson at $5 million. The value doesn't look all that great for the Penguins but I'm skeptical he really brings back better than that.



Karlsson produces significantly more and drives play significantly more at 5v5 than Gostisbehere does. Gostisbehere is a great PPQB but Karlsson's 5v5 impact is orders of magnitude better.

The thing for the canes is Burns going to back and even if he is his best days are behind him.

What about Orlov?

Nikishin will obviously see a bigger role next year and will almost certainly be much better as well.

Lots of questions in the offseason for the Canes.

 

[SEALBound]

Something around Morrow and EK would be the best for the Penguins. At zero retention, 1:1 makes sense. If there's significant retention, there needs to be add but I think there's also a possibility of adding salary coming for the Penguins.

If Carolina wants to retain Orlov and give Nikishin a bigger role, you could do something like Walker+1st (Perhaps the Dallas 1st?) for EK at 50%?

Slavin-Karlsson
Orlov-Nikishin
Ghost-Chatfield

Basically a upgrade from Burns to Karlsson and you open up a slot for Nikishin.

 

[BonMorrison]

Karlsson on Carolina makes a ton of sense especially paired with a dude like Slavin.

 

[Chan790]

I guess I don't particularly see the point in trading him if that's the return

I agree. You should keep him. Or...at-least should keep him away from Carolina.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I agree. You should keep him. Or...at-least should keep him away from Carolina.

I mean, Carolina pretty obviously needs a guy like Karlsson? They don't have any offensive drivers from their defense at this point. None of Slavin, Chatfield, Walker or Gostisbehere are good 5v5 producer or 5v5 offensive drivers. Orlov and Burns were their best producers, but both are UFAs and neither had good offensive driving results.

Karlsson obviously has his issues, but he's one of the best offensive producers and offensive drivers among defensemen at 5v5. Considering Carolina couldn't score at 5v5 for shit in these playoffs and Carolina is losing both of their 2 best offensive producers from their defense, there seems to be a pretty obvious fit there.

 

[Chan790]

I mean, Carolina pretty obviously needs a guy like Karlsson? They don't have any offensive drivers from their defense at this point. None of Slavin, Chatfield, Walker or Gostisbehere are good 5v5 producer or 5v5 offensive drivers. Orlov and Burns were their best producers, but both are UFAs and neither had good offensive driving results.

I reject this core premise.

I think we need to stop acquiring defensemen that don't play defense.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I reject this core premise.

I think we need to stop acquiring defensemen that don't play defense.

I posted the numbers showing why you pretty obviously need a defenseman like Karlsson. Your team can't score at 5v5 and not having good offensive drivers from defense is a major reason for that.

Refusing to acquire players Karlsson because he can't play defense is just going to result in your team continuing to not be able to score in the playoffs. This isn't even a "you have to acquire Karlsson", it's more generally about the things Carolina is lacking on their roster. You're not going to win anything with having limited high end talent and just a bunch of bland 2-way guys.

In the last 5 years:

2025: 1.91 5v5 goals/60
2024: 2.27 5v5 goals/60
2023: 2.26 5v5 goals/60
2022: 2.24 5v5 goals/60
2021: 2.06 5v5 goals/60

The Hurricanes flat out cannot produce at 5v5 in the playoffs and it has been a consistent trend every year.

 

[hamzarocks]

The canes need to add an NHL 2C and NHL 3C

They have a 1C, then 2 4Cs in Staal and Kotka (maybe a 3rd line winger).

I think they use Roslovic as a C as well but he's a good top 9 winger who can play C for stretches.

They should trade for a 2C and then add a EK65 type asset at retained deal

 

[DesertPenguin]

Ghost as the main piece back does nothing for me. Young prospect or a 1st.

 

[Chan790]

Ghost as the main piece back does nothing for me. Young prospect or a 1st.

Not worthwhile at that price, even if we could make it work... don't want to pair him with Slavin, so it would be literally to replace Ghost or Walker.