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

[Scandale du Jour]

It could very well backfire, but I gotta admit I am very excited about that trade.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Yeah outside of Pettersson this defensive group is pretty soff lol. From what I've read from Devils fans, Graves is big but not very physical. And the stats support that (83 hits in 78 GP last year). Ty Smith/Will Butcher fit that undersized OFD steretype too.

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It’s actually scary. We lost both of our crease clearing guys in one trade. Add that to Jarrys injury issues…… As constructed I’m worried.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

i haven’t paid too much attention to him since he went to SJ, how is EK defensively these days? I’m sure he takes chances, but can anyone speak to his defensive play?

It's bad

 

[DearDiary]

Least physical defence in the NHL. Good chance Jarry misses time due to other teams players falling on him while his defence watches

 

[Peat]

I dunno, man. I don't even hate it as much as others but that bottom six looks like it was workshopped in Mike Sullivan's wildest fantasies. Like I keep saying... at least the players finally fit how the coach deploys his lines. I know you guys all wanted to drop like 14M on the third line but I would have liked that even less.

That's why I used the Shake Shack analogy. I can believe, at least for the sake of argument, that what Sully does truly want more than anything else are defence-burgers, What I won't believe because it makes no sense is that Sully looks like at Eller and Acciari and goes "hell yeah, best defence burgers in town" rather than wistfully thinking "boy, wish I had Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev instead". It'd be like a BBQ devotee choosing to go to Pittsburgh over Kansas, a whisky fiend eulogising over Jim Beam. Like wishing you could jam with David Knopfler rather than Mark Knopfler.

I am skeptical that he just wants defence-burgers anyway. I think his wildest fantasy is being given HBK 2.0. We've had a lot of bottom sixers who are more two-way than defensive over the years.

But even if I'm wrong, this is a very mediocre defence-burger. This can't be anyone's dream.

 

[Turin]

Losing Rutta isn’t ideal but that’s the kind of hole you can fill in-season.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

That's why I used the Shake Shack analogy. I can believe, at least for the sake of argument, that what Sully does truly want more than anything else are defence-burgers, What I won't believe because it makes no sense is that Sully looks like at Eller and Acciari and goes "hell yeah, best defence burgers in town" rather than wistfully thinking "boy, wish I had Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev instead". It'd be like a BBQ devotee choosing to go to Pittsburgh over Kansas, a whisky fiend eulogising over Jim Beam. Like wishing you could jam with David Knopfler rather than Mark Knopfler.

I am skeptical that he just wants defence-burgers anyway. I think his wildest fantasy is being given HBK 2.0. We've had a lot of bottom sixers who are more two-way than defensive over the years.

But even if I'm wrong, this is a very mediocre defence-burger. This can't be anyone's dream.

Well now I'm just hungry.

But I won't talk about food. Or video games. Perish the thought.

 

[Empoleon8771]

It could very well backfire, but I gotta admit I am very excited about that trade.

Honestly I don't really see much of a risk for this to backfire.

1. I think the Penguins are too good (or not bad enough, however you want to word it) for 2023-2024 to give San Jose a super high 1st with their 2024 1st
2. Karlsson falling off doesn't really close the Penguins window because their window is already closed without hitting on adding a guy like Karlsson.

If they would have given up more, I think there would be a lot more risk here. But with only trading a 1st, I don't quite see a high level of risk here. The worst case scenario is that Karlsson regresses and you're stuck with his contract, but it's not like that would be preventing the Penguins from winning at that point. It's just dead money that FSG will need to fork over.

 

[chethejet]

Pens have a tight cap unless Jake is LTIR for quite awhile. then finding a decent LW is a need. Pens need to add a bigger physical RD so they have enough bang back there. Dubas is not done and will address a couple remaining issues. find a way to move Carter would help. Kings take him and Pens retain half. But moving Granlund and his 10 million and keeping the first next year if top 10 is good management. I liked Petry but you have to create cap space somewhere. Rutta was a player who fit a third pairing but picking up 10 million is a big hit. Ok move Rakell to LW and pick up a decent RW or add that decent LW. Rust has to play better but his NMC is for this year and next.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

People who somehow think that the Penguins are real Cup contenders are probably unhappy. Because "MUH DEFENZ" or something. But I also suspect that they could not provide a realistic plan to actually make them Cup contenders minus a Flux Capacitor.

Similar to how the "REBUILD!1!!" crowd has no answer for Sid Crosby being a thing.

This is at least fun. Have some dang fun geez.

 

[K Fleur]

Well now I'm just hungry.

But I won't talk about food. Or video games. Perish the thought.

I’m at the floating continent in FF6. Ultima kicked my ass so I’m gonna have to level grind a little bit.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

What's Pens X take on this? We all need to know.

 

[Darren McCord]

It’s actually scary. We lost both of our crews clearing guys in one trade. Add that to Jarrys injury issues…… As constructed I’m worried.

Meh the league is faster and faster. The pens need to exit the zone fast and press the attack. That will be the best insulation for Jarry. Petry and Rutta did nothing to protect him last year.

 

[Empoleon8771]

It would be pretty funny for Karlsson to give the Penguins 4 good years of play and then the Penguins get a 1st back for Karlsson in the last year of his deal.

I don't even think it's a farfetched scenario either. A 36 year old Karlsson at 50% retained in 2025-2026 probably brings back a 1st if he's still at least a good OFD.

 

[The Old Master]

Trade is good, but I’m not super stoked about losing Rutta. Especially with Letang and EK out there doing their best “extra attacker” impersonations. Obviously you do it for EK, but I hope the D finds the right balance now

I'm sure sully will have them all standing to the side of the net and stick shaking the heck out of it in no time. just like always.

 

[SomeDude]

I can’t wait to watch a PP with 3 or 4 future hall of famers continue to be mediocre while Todd Reirden gets another promotion.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

This may be a hot take, but I feel that the team improved more going from Dumoulin to Graves than anything that happened here.
R. Smith for a 3rd was a great replacement for Zucker, with term that fits our "window". It's not like Zucker was gonna play that way again.
Eller's obviously a huge defensive upgrade on Carter at 3C too. Plus the fringe forward depth took a notable step forward. It's gonna be relied on more than it was last season. The top six isn't gonna be as healthy last season. It already isn't, with Guentzel's injury.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

If someone like Tatar is available super cheap, then you can add them.

But I have a feeling the Penguins are just going to rotate through the likes of Pitlick, Nylander, Hinostroza, Johnsson, and Zohorna, as well as young guys like Puustinen and Poulin, while Guentzel is out and throughout the course of the first half.

I also think they'll just rotate POJ, Smith and Ruhwedel in the bottom pairing. Some games you can pair POJ and Smith together. If one of them needs a reset, you plug in Ruhwedel.

Then, at the deadline, you can fill needs at a lower cost.

Not only does this deal completely reshape the Penguins' defense and power play, but it also provides a lot more flexibility moving forward.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Meh the league is faster and faster. The pens need to exit the zone fast and press the attack. That will be the best insulation for Jarry. Petry and Rutta did nothing to protect him last year.

I was pretty excited that the team went bigger and beefier when they re-did the defense.

But honestly it didn't seem to actually pan out that way out on the ice.

And yeah... there was a lot of scrambling around in their own end simply because they couldn't pressure the opposing team and transition the puck cleanly. I would hope this helps that.

EDIT: and when they did get hemmed in they had the likes of Dumo doing his best beached whale impression.

 

[K Fleur]

I’m excited for the 1st time we play Montreal(or Detroit) and @Gurglesons tells us he always knew Petry sucked.

 

[chethejet]

I actually think with 18 million of cap space next year, pens will add a top LW not crazy about extending Jake and have money for either the Calgary center Lindholm or Hanifin if he is a FA. Yes the window for being a chalk for the cup is over, but Dubas has something he never had in Toronto, Top RD and a top goalie.

 

[Malkinstheman]

He's obviously older now but when the games have mattered (2017 and 2019) dude becomes a monster. Not really worried about his defence.

 

[Jacob]

I recall Graves being more physical, not sure why his hit totals are lower. Maybe he just tends to throw fewer but bigger hits.

 

[Extra Texture]

So weird to see fans of a rebuilding team post things like, "we only retained $1.5 million! Huge win!"

Yeah, that's a very strange takeaway from their fans. Like they're searching for a crumb of comfort in what looks like a humiliating capitulation. The only winner on the Sharks side was Hasso Plattner's wallet.

Imagine the return, after rampaging to the Norris with 100+ points, they would've gotten if they had been willing to sell Karlsson at 5.75M for 4 years. Likely a bevvy of multiple, unconditional firsts.

Now imagine SJS also throwing a second/third/mid level prospect to a third team to eat another couple of million, and suddenly they can offer EK at 4-5M to any contender, offering to take back an equivalent salary. The bidding war would've dwarfed every other trade saga we've seen in modern times, as like 15 teams would've been grabbing a bunch of picks, prospects and a 4-5M player from their roster and getting in line.

I feel sorry for Grier. The Sharks could've turbocharged their rebuild by selling off a HoFer at the height of his value. Instead, Grier has to hope and pray its a sellers market this spring, and that Granlund, Rutta and Hoffman dont play like complete ass for them.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Also wanted to take a second to acknowledge something else I am very happy to be wrong about.

They didn't have to buy out Granlund. That alone is a win... nevermind somehow making him part of the package for the 3x Norris winner coming off a 101 point season.