He had his stats inflated by playing on a garbage team (where the offense ran through him and he could ignore all defensive efforts) and San Jose could still barely find a GM dumb enough to take him. Now after a worse year where he actually had to play some semblance of responsible hockey, why would his value have gone up even the slightest from a middling 1st and a collection of cap dumps?Having been skeptical of the trade, Karlsson is really good and a contending team would give up big time assets for him. Pens are not moving him this year. But I can see a scenario of him heading out next year with a reduced salary contractually. did anyone see the costs for marginal talent this year. He is a great trade chip after this year with his decreasing salary.
No contender would be stupid enough to take him for free off waivers at his cap hit. With retention again he might get a meh pick/prospect and another collection of cap dumps