Confirmed with Link: Penguins acquire Erik Karlsson for Granlund, 1st rounder in 2024, Rutta, Petry, DeSmith (more in first post)

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Nice.

Just hope Sully doesn’t misuse him like how Disco Dunce wrecked Iginla’s time here.

 

[pistolpete11]

They could still sign a bunch of guys to <1.15m contracts to battle it out in the bottom-6 and then waive the losers when Guentzel is back

1. What good does that really do?
2. Isn't that what they've already done with Pitlick, Johnsson, Hinostroza, Nieto, Zohrona, etc.? Plus DOC, Puusy, Nylander?

 

[Flying Dego]

"Mike we've made the trade for EK! It's a done deal"

"Did we remove 2 RD as was my request?"

"...uh yes, a bit odd you were holding this trade up for that purpose but it's complete"

"Good, good...now leave me"

Ladies and gentlemen you're #3 RD (#1 in our hearts)

 

[Peat]

I think with Jake on IR to start the season, even Sully/Reirden will have no choice but to run 2D-3F (65-58-87-71-67?) every powerplay for about 1:30 of the 2:00. I'm not sure when the switch flipped but we don't really have a 2nd powerplay unit anymore lol. Like others have said, Sid, Geno, and Letang run that shit and you aren't taking the reigning Norris Trophy winner off the ice for Bryan Rust.

Hey, PP2 exists. It just doesn't get much time. It was underrated good last year.

I also don't think it's impossible that Letang is shuffled to PP2. I'm sure they'll try the 2D PP1, but if it doesn't work, Letang's the fall guy there. I'd also point out that ice time is a real thing. Letang is probably back on PK1, they'll still want to use him a ton at 5v5... removing him from PP1 is logical.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Montreal did nice business here. Got Petry at 4.7M x 2, a league average backup making 1.8M, and a 2nd. And Legare... lol

...Didnt Petry want OUT of Montreal just a summer ago also? That's what makes it even funnier.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The internet is a toxic horrible place where civil discussion goes to die, so no problem.

Thanks for this! Yeah, I’m wondering if we can pump Granlund’s value for a trade at the deadline.

Did Hoffman not play at all then? Is he broken?

Hoffman is coming in from Montreal. I'm honestly not at all familiar enough with his situation to comment. And yes that's not a bad plan... if SJ can pump his numbers a bit he could maybe be flipped at the TDL. Perhaps by then Hextall will be employed somewhere and you could even get a second round pick!

 

[Peat]

1. What good does that really do?
2. Isn't that what they've already done with Pitlick, Johnsson, Hinostroza, Nieto, Zohrona, etc.? Plus DOC, p***y, Nylander?

Yeah. Unless guys like Suter, Tatar ... uhhh... Erne? Ritchie? Are willing to sign here for 1.1m, it's more of the same.

And sure, I'll do more of the same. More dice you throw, more sixes you land. But as you say, we've already done it.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I'm still out and about, but I was hoping my memes didn't have to be shipped off to 3rd world countries.

It's no longer EK watch, he's actually here. Yes!!!

 

[WickedWrister]

Hey guys! Come in peace. I think this trade is great for everyone - you guys get what you want and have another chance at the cup, we got rid of a massive contract for a tiny amount of retainment and a 1st — something we genuinely couldn’t have even imagined last summer.

Question for ya’ll: what’s the word now on the old dudes we got? I know they’re all cap dumps but just curious what level they’re playing at now — are Granlund/Hoffman third line players? 4th line? How bad ARE they? Is Rutta still pretty good? I think he’s actually a nice teacher for some of our young defensemen, so I sorta like getting him back.

Thanks!

P.S. as a kid I loved Jagr (I had long hair and everyone called me Jagr when I played) and always picked the Penguins when I played the NHL games.. before I became a big Sharks fan of course. Anyway, still have a soft spot for your team and hope Karlsson can get a cup there.

Granlund is a 31 year old overpaid (5m per for the next 2 seasons), undersized play making wing/C that became the boards whipping boy after Hextall inexplicably traded a 2nd round pick for him at the deadline last year. Probably gets more hate than he deserves, but he contributed very little (5 pts in 21 games) in his short time here. He's a negative value asset at 5m but if you give him enough minutes and some time on the PP you could probably rehab his value and flip him for a mid round pick at the deadline.

Rutta is a 33 year old solid, physical, crease clearing defenseman signed for 2 more years at 2.75m. Probably best suited for a 2nd or 3rd pairing, but he is a 2x Stanley Cup champion and is pretty responsible in his own end. I think he's a positive value asset for sure and we're gonna miss his physical play.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Hey, PP2 exists. It just doesn't get much time. It was underrated good last year.

I also don't think it's impossible that Letang is shuffled to PP2. I'm sure they'll try the 2D PP1, but if it doesn't work, Letang's the fall guy there. I'd also point out that ice time is a real thing. Letang is probably back on PK1, they'll still want to use him a ton at 5v5... removing him from PP1 is logical.

Oooooooh... yeahhhhhhh... so... I'm not NEARLY this confident in the decision making process. Particularly when it comes to how the powerplay is handled. This team practically puts a cape on Kris Letang. But I sincerely hope you're right haha

 

[Honour Over Glory]

We dumped Deshit.

I am ecstatic.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

...Didnt Petry want OUT of Montreal just a summer ago also? That's what makes it even funnier.

Yeah I'm wondering if they flip him now.

 

[Ryder71]

Best part about this deal (other than getting rid of Granny) is that we got to keep our top 2 prospects as well. Didn't really empty the cupboard that much.

Exactly, there were people offering up multiple 1sts, absolutely ridiculous! Granted SJ didn't retain much, but I didn't think they would. We gave up a 1st and a 2hd in '25, but recouped a 3rd in '26. I'm happy with what we did here. I just hope we can add one more quality forward to the 2hd or 3rd line.

 

[Ms Maggie]

Even if you don’t believe we’re contenders, I just wanted to see ownership/management group make one big splash to try and swing for the fences in the last couple years of this era. Trading for Karlsson certainly qualifies as such. Great news.

Exactly. No guts no glory.

 

[WickedWrister]

Hey, PP2 exists. It just doesn't get much time. It was underrated good last year.

I also don't think it's impossible that Letang is shuffled to PP2. I'm sure they'll try the 2D PP1, but if it doesn't work, Letang's the fall guy there. I'd also point out that ice time is a real thing. Letang is probably back on PK1, they'll still want to use him a ton at 5v5... removing him from PP1 is logical.

I mean maybe, but I'll believe it when I see it. Letang has been on this top unit for basically the last 16-17 years? and even when Jake gets back I find it hard to believe Rust/Rakell will supplant 58/65.

I think Graves and Pettersson log a ton of PK minutes

 

[Jacob]

Petry probably left Montreal off his NTC list because he figured he had burned that bridge.

Also was part of the holdup that Montreal had to wait a year to reacquire him? Forget when we got him. Maybe this deal was done in principle weeks ago.

 

[Come on]

Comtois is interesting.

 

[Gurglesons]

Exactly, there were people offering up multiple 1sts, absolutely ridiculous! Granted SJ didn't retain much, but I didn't think they would. We gave up a 1st and a 2hd in '25, but recouped a 3rd in '26. I'm happy with what we did here. I just hope we can add one more quality forward to the 2hd or 3rd line.

The reason we didn’t pay that is because San Jose didn’t retain anything really.

 

[Ryder71]

The reason we didn’t pay that is because San Jose didn’t retain anything really.

I didn't expect them to retain much. Maybe a little more than they did, but not much more.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

"Mike we've made the trade for EK! It's a done deal"

"Did we remove 2 RD as was my request?"

"...uh yes, a bit odd you were holding this trade up for that purpose but it's complete"

"Good, good...now leave me"

Ladies and gentlemen you're #3 RD (#1 in our hearts)

View attachment 733918

We got rid of Deshit but kept Turdwedel. Such is life.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I mean maybe, but I'll believe it when I see it. Letang has been on this top unit for basically the last 16-17 years? and even when Jake gets back I find it hard to believe Rust/Rakell will supplant 58/65.

I think Graves and Pettersson log a ton of PK minutes

Watch them put Malkin on PP2 or something.

SPLIT UNITS!

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Petry probably left Montreal off his NTC list because he figured he had burned that bridge.

Also was part of the holdup that Montreal had to wait a year to reacquire him? Forget when we got him. Maybe this deal was done in principle weeks ago.

Habs top pair being Matheson, Petry cracks me up for some reason.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Petry probably left Montreal off his NTC list because he figured he had burned that bridge.

Also was part of the holdup that Montreal had to wait a year to reacquire him? Forget when we got him. Maybe this deal was done in principle weeks ago.

Deadlines make deals and Granlund's buyout was the deadline.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I still find it hilarious that there are people on here (both whiner Penguins fans and other fans) who insist the Penguins still aren't a playoff team, despite upgrading from Dumoulin and Petry to Graves and Karlsson while not downgrading anywhere else.

But I'm just a homer for thinking that the defense upgrade alone will guarantee them a playoff spot or something.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

You can argue exactly how good the pens are now, but it's nice to see we're actually going for it. Standing pat would have been a waste of everyone's time.