Value of: Erik Karlsson @6M

[qc14]

If the Penguins put EK on waivers tomorrow would he (and his contract) get claimed? CBJ and Utah are I think the only teams that even consider it and they all probably pass.

At what cap hit does that number definitively go to one team? Five? Ten? Half retained I'd think Dallas and Carolina would be interested, Columbus and Utah as well. Maybe Florida and Toronto in the summer. Dallas just moved their first this year. Carolina is notoriously stingy with theirs. Columbus and Utah probably aren't moving theirs for a very old player.

The market just isn't there.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

If the Penguins put EK on waivers tomorrow would he (and his contract) get claimed? CBJ and Utah are I think the only teams that even consider it and they all probably pass.

At what cap hit does that number definitively go to one team? Five? Ten? Half retained I'd think Dallas and Carolina would be interested, Columbus and Utah as well. Maybe Florida and Toronto in the summer. Dallas just moved their first this year. Carolina is notoriously stingy with theirs. Columbus and Utah probably aren't moving theirs for a very old player.

The market just isn't there.

The Sharks would absolutely claim Karlsson at 10 mil with only a couple seasons left and they’re number one on the priority list. Too bad Karlsson wouldn’t allow it.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

He's in decline and not the Dman folks think he is anymore.

Sure. He's merely a very, very good defenseman, rather than a potential Norris-winning defenseman.

If the Penguins put EK on waivers tomorrow would he (and his contract) get claimed?

Any team with the cap space to do so would claim him.

 

[Caps8112]

dont see anyone taking him unless pens significantly retain or throw in something to be rid of him. 11 pp points this season. hes not even a specialist at this point. doesnt really matter if they keep him or give him away for free. end of an era in pitt unless they have a bunch of prospects that are about to take that next step and they make some good fa moves.

 

[LeProspector]

Ottawa offers a 2025 first/David Perron/ Jacob Bernard Docker / Stephen Halliday or Zack Ostapchuk

 

[Lemieuxs]

Scored again last night. He is still a great d-man... just not at the $10M level. But if the Pens retain and he is at $6M he is worth a lot in my opinion.

 

[Girthybowlofchili]

To Dallas:
Erik Karlsson (40% retained)

To Pittsburgh:
Dallas 2026 1st
Dallas 2026 3rd
Emil Hemming
Matt Dumba

Yay or nay? EK gets a shot at a cup with coaches he’s previously played for.

 

[HuGort]

What is the value of Erik Karlsson if the Penguins retain $4M leaving him at $6M for 2 more seasons.
Currently sitting on 36 points with 55 games played this season.

Penguins are looking for young NHL players, prospects and picks.

Montreal hard up for right shot D. We may take him on but looking for hockey deal. Not wanting to give up picks or top prospects

 

[ManofSteel55]

This is probably more of an off-season move after the Penguins pay Karlsson's $5 million signing bonus and the cap rise gets finalized.

I think they could likely get a 2026 1st for him, probably with taking another contract back. The 2025 draft kinda sucks so I'd be trying to get a 2026 1st personally.

I agree with this. Right now, the only suitors will be playoff contenders, but at $6M, any team looking for a top pair defensemen would look at him, warts and all. He's not really the kind of guy to add to push a playoff team over the top, but he is a guy who can help a team without a top tier puck moving defenseman become a better team for the full year next year.

Philly is weak on the blueline, I wonder if there is a summer deal to be had between these rival teams over the summer.

 

[chethejet]

Dubas will move him the off season. Yes Pens will retain but not as much as folks think. Cap going up gives teams breathing room. Plus with 2 years left and a cash salary of 13.5 net is certainly attractive. I still think Ottawa has interest and AAV at say 7.5 and Pens retain 2.5 per brings cash salary down to 7.5 for 2 years. Tell how he is not a bargain on the balance sheet with that actual cost. that gives the Pens number 1 and a good RW or prospect.

 

[wintersej]

Because a contending team might not have 5M of space but could have 2.5M of space lol pretty obvious.

If retaining gets a better return then it’s bad management not to do it especially given we won’t be competitive until after said retention spot expires.

Best to wait until the offseason when teams will have oodles of space than retain for years.

 

[Mattb124]

I don't think he is easy to trade or get value for at 6.5M. The problem is that any team who can fit that in probably is not a team he would waive for. My assumption is that he would only waive for the typical meme low-tax contender teams like Florida, Tampa, Vegas, and Dallas - as well as possibly Ottawa or Montreal due to Ottawa still being the adopted hometown of his family.

He will be 35 years old next season and has an extensive injury history. I think that teams are going to be reticent about the remaining term.

Using Vegas, I could see something like Karlsson with steep retention for Whitecloud, a 2nd, and the 3rd or 4th best prospect in the system of Vegas. I don't think they are going to get the return people expect, and I think they will have to both retain and take back questionable contracts with term.

If a contract termination like Saad, with assets going to Pittsburgh baked in could be worked out and legal in the CBA - I think that's how all sides get what they want. Karlsson is still only 34 years old, so that would allow him to sign a lower AAV but longer term contract with the idea that he will inevitable LTIRetire because it's fairly unrealistic to expect Karlsson to still be playing at 38 or 39 years old. Call it a terminate-and-trade.

Because he isn't 35, if his contract was terminated now, they would have more creativity with the kind of cap (won't use the C word here) gymnastics they could do.

He has played in every game over that past 3 seasons. That doesn’t align very well with your “extensive injury history” claim.

The discussions he had with management prior to leaving SJS indicated he wanted to play to a contender, and waived to go to PIT. What leads you to assume his income tax situation would dictate his destination when nothing about his prior trade does?

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

That wouldn't surprise me but his family did enjoy their time in San Jose.

You can after a calendar year.

Same thing with buyouts I believe. You can resign a player you bought out. But after a year. I assume that rule is there to stop shenanigans.

 

[3074326]

Had a post here, deleted it.

But many of you are out of your minds if you don’t think there’s a market for EK. Literally insane. Retention or not, there will be a market because he still does what few others can. With retention, he will have plenty of suitors. Probably a significant amount of them.

 

[Seanaconda]

He should go to Seattle or somewhere else that they could focus their offense around him

 

[wetcoast]

This is probably more of an off-season move after the Penguins pay Karlsson's $5 million signing bonus and the cap rise gets finalized.

I think they could likely get a 2026 1st for him, probably with taking another contract back. The 2025 draft kinda sucks so I'd be trying to get a 2026 1st personally.

Something like this and the Pens are lucky with the cap going up.