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

[pistolpete11]

I think he'd get a lot more than that in the top 6. Our injury luck from last year will run out.
Plus I wouldn't be surprised if Jake's out til December. They said he'll be re-evaluated at the end of October, nothing more.

Probably, but would you risk potentially millions of dollars on that if you were him?

I'm sure some team out there is able to offer him a bit more of a guarantee on getting prime minutes.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Man I am hoping beyond hope that EK can fix the abomination that is our powerplay but like you I do have some reservations about it actually working out that way.

I will say that depending on how they deploy it EK brings a level of poise up top that we have not had since Gonchar. All due respect to Letang who has compiled great PP numbers but he's never been a calming influence at the point on the PP. Karlsson is. He's going to settle things down up there in a way we haven't seen since Gonch.

Sid being better on PP faceoffs and us being cleaner with zone entries, using EK, would go a long way.
But I think they should change their strategy going up ice. The drop pass and everyone at the blue line flat-footed doesn't work.

When it comes to the PP, I'm a lot more focused on boosting the zone time and possession than anything after that.
Obviously his shooting and playmaking will help though.

 

[LiffLaff]

Wow! Didn't expect this today, can't help but get excited for the upcoming season now.

 

[Headshot77]

Hopefully we don't ever have to think about Casey DeSmith again too. That will be nice

Who are you talking about?

 

[Jacob]

Hits arent all to measure that. He is big and can body people off the puck. That doesnt count as hits.

He blocks a ton of shots too. Not a hit but I’d put that in the same category as ”being tough to play against.”

 

[Ryder71]

So, we add EK but for a few months lose Jake, maybe a net positive but we need more.

 

[farscape1]

Now we just need to flip Jarry and get good goalie.

 

[Ugene Magic]

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Also anyone who is overly-worried about EK's defense... wasn't there some crazy stat about the team being a net negative like 50some goals but with EK on the ice even? I'm probably getting that wrong but the vast majority of his minuses were shorties and EN against.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Also anyone who is overly-worried about EK's defense... wasn't there some crazy stat about the team being a net negative like 50some goals but with EK on the ice even? I'm probably getting that wrong but the vast majority of his minuses were shorties and EN against.

Yeah that is correct. The Sharks were a -52 at 5v5 without Karlsson on the ice and exactly neutral with him on the ice.

 

[Peat]

Also anyone who is overly-worried about EK's defense... wasn't there some crazy stat about the team being a net negative like 50some goals but with EK on the ice even? I'm probably getting that wrong but the vast majority of his minuses were shorties and EN against.

No, you're entirely right. The Sharks scored 96 and conceded 96 with Karlsson on ice at 5v5, and score 72 and conceded 124. Karlsson is probably a plus player at 5v5 with a better goalie.

His xGA/60 stats are pretty much identical to the team without him too.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I guess so much for that retention that Petry wasn't going to require... Eh. Also, who would have predicted him going back to Montreal?

Not this guy.

So much to digest over a single player, you'd think that they were trying to bring in Brassard.

 

[Extra Texture]

Will EK shave off that Three Musketeer facial hair thing he has had forever? I don't think I want to look at that all year.

My Best-Carey

I dont know, I've never liked that facial hair either but why mess with a good thing? Plus the fact that he has that pirate/swashbuckler look going on. Maybe that's the kind of casual smugness and attitude that the team need right now.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

No, you're entirely right. The Sharks scored 96 and conceded 96 with Karlsson on ice at 5v5, and score 72 and conceded 124. Karlsson is probably a plus player at 5v5 with a better goalie.

His xGA/60 stats are pretty much identical to the team without him too.

I'm not saying he's some whiz-bang defensive genius but it's safe to say he makes as much as he takes, at least.

 

[IcedCapp]

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.

Don’t be a hater. This is the year the team plays lockdown defence with great structure

 

[Peat]

I'm not saying he's some whiz-bang defensive genius but it's safe to say he makes as much as he takes, at least.

I am quietly fascinated as to how good defensively Karlsson can be when he wants to be. We all know a lot of defence is simple will. We've all seen a number of players with deservedly dodgy defensive reputations who could really turn it on if needed (one might call it a Pittsburgh Penguin speciality).

He's had glittering defensive stats in 4 out of 6 playoffs. He's killed penalties regularly. I dunno about you, but I don't recall thinking "wow who's this defensive bum in 2017".

I don't think he's going to be great regular season, but if we make the playoffs...

 

[Headshot77]

Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell
Smith-Malkin-Rust
Pitlick-Eller-Acciari
O'Connor-Hinostroza-Nieto
Carter

Graves-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
POJ-Ty Smith
Eternal 7D Ruhwedel

Jarry
Ned

I'd rather have Nylander or Zohorna as the 13F but what can you do.

Looking at this lineup our whole team is f***ing backwards lmao. Barely any of our defenseman play defense and our entire bottom 6 is all defense with little offensive upside. But let's send it. At least the Pens are trying something.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I am quietly fascinated as to how good defensively Karlsson can be when he wants to be. We all know a lot of defence is simple will. We've all seen a number of players with deservedly dodgy defensive reputations who could really turn it on if needed (one might call it a Pittsburgh Penguin speciality).

*coughcoughEVGENIMALKINMARIOLEMIEUXcoughcough*

 

[Dominance]

I’m seeing some people mention that they wished we got more retention on EK and while that’s obviously very fair, I think it’s misplaced. The projected cap rise over the next few seasons means it is really this year and next (which is also our remaining window) that matters - and we moved out so much more cap in this trade than I could ever have hoped. Outside of Carter, we have no bad deals on this team, and only our starting goalie, top-6 forwards, and top-4 defensemen are making any serious cash - exactly how it should be.

I give Dubas 11/10 for what he’s done so far. Those of you who incessantly complain about Jarry can buzz off - he was by far the best goalie available for this team, and is among the league leaders in SP over the past few seasons. He just needs to start also making those saves at the end of the year.

 

[K Fleur]

^^Sequence that starts at 1:40 makes my dick hard.

 

[Freeptop]

Interesting little detail in this trade: Pens sent out a 2024 1st, and a 2025 2nd, while getting back a 2026 3rd.

So, for the next two drafts, the Pens at least have the possibility of still having one of their top two picks. Then, right around the time when the Pens are most likely to be going into a rebuild (if they aren't already there by then), they get an extra pick.

Huh.

 

[Turin]

Looks like if you send down Pitlick you have more than enough space for when Guentzel comes back. Nice.

Also more WBS stacking

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Also anyone who is overly-worried about EK's defense... wasn't there some crazy stat about the team being a net negative like 50some goals but with EK on the ice even? I'm probably getting that wrong but the vast majority of his minuses were shorties and EN against.

That's because he put up 64 5v5 points and negated the goals against. How many is he gonna put up this year?
He averages 12 EVG's and 19 EVA's per 82 games. 31 even-strength points total.

So if he goes back to his norm it's gonna be difficult to mask his deficiencies. He's gonna need a lot of help from Petts/Graves, Jarry/Ned and the Forwards defensively.

 

[Ben Grimm]

Congrats! The Pens have won the 2024 SC.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I’m seeing some people mention that they wished we got more retention on EK and while that’s obviously very fair, I think it’s misplaced. The projected cap rise over the next few seasons means it is really this year and next (which is also our remaining window) that matters - and we moved out so much more cap in this trade than I could ever have hoped. Outside of Carter, we have no bad deals on this team, and only our starting goalie, top-6 forwards, and top-4 defensemen are making any serious cash - exactly how it should be.

I give Dubas 11/10 for what he’s done so far. Those of you who incessantly complain about Jarry can buzz off - he was by far the best goalie available for this team, and is among the league leaders in SP over the past few seasons. He just needs to start also making those saves at the end of the year.

I think it's kinda funny that we can use the same argument about the cap going up FOR us the same way SJ fans were using it against us (in regards to the idea of simply keeping him) 24 hours ago.