Could The Resurgence of Erik Karlsson Lead to a Trade?

It has been five years since the league saw Erik Karlsson playing the way he is this season. Not since his days in Ottawa have fans around the NHL seen this offensive output from the Swedish defenseman. It used to be the norm for Karlsson to exceed 15 goals and 60 points each season, as he did it for four straight years and five overall.

At age 32, the defenseman has found his mojo once again, as he has been torching the stat sheets all season long. Through 39 games, he has already recorded 13 goals and 40 assists for 53 points on a bottom-feeding sharks team. This is a win-win situation for both the team and the player, as Karlsson’s value is the highest it’s been in years.

Karlsson is currently amidst a 13-game point streak where he has just dominated. He has scored two goals over the span but has racked up 21 points, showing just how valuable he is as a playmaker.

With the Sharks needing to shed salary cap and get assets for the future, the time may be now to trade him.

Even though he is enjoying what could turn out to be a career year, his remaining contract puts a severe snag in trade talks with a contender. After this season, Karlsson still has four years left on his current contract, with a cap hit of $11.5 million each season.

For most contenders, that price alone makes it a no go but if the Sharks are desperate enough to create cap space, would they consider retaining 50 percent? Of course, this will require picks and prospects, but if Karlsson is able to stay healthy and continue this level of production, he would certainly improve a team’s top four right away.

Until the March 3rd trade deadline approaches, everything is just speculation as teams do their due diligence by asking around. Karlsson would make a great addition to any team, but the price point just has to be right.

Stanley Cup Aspirations Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

The boys are back after a long break but have plenty to talk about as the playoffs are in full swing. We go series by series, looking at how teams have fared so far and who will come out on top. Thanks for listening! Please rate and review our show on your favorite listening platform. Check out our partner's website at www.insidetherink.com for all your latest hockey news.
  1. Stanley Cup Aspirations
  2. The Final Countdown
  3. Here Come the Playoffs
  4. Home Stretch
  5. Kevy Cooks

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Kevin Santangelo

Co Host of Cue' the Duck Boats Podcast Writer for Inside the Rink

Leave a Reply

Steve Yzerman, General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings

Yzerman: This Red Wings Team ‘Can Take a Step’

The Detroit Red Wings currently have $12.09 million in salary cap space after the team acquired goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks and acquired free agent left-winger James van Riemsdyk recently. According to general manager Steve Yzerman, the team will likely stand pat right now despite having this amount of cap space. The fact […]

Read More
Tanner Jeannot of the Los Angeles Kings

Player Profile: Tanner Jeannot

Tanner Jeannot was born on May 29, 1997, in Estevan, Saskatchewan. The left-shooting forward played for three seasons with the Estevan Bruins from 2010-13. In his first two seasons with the U15 club, Jeannot scored 29 goals and collected 18 assists in 42 games and five goals and three assists in ten postseason games. Jeannot […]

Read More
Gage Goncalves of the Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning Make Significant Player Signings To Start July

As free agency has started in the National Hockey League, many teams, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, are making significant roster moves with free agents and player extensions. Just yesterday, July 1, for day one of free agency, the Lightning extended young 24-year-old Portuguese forward Gage Goncalves to a two-year contract worth $1.2 million a […]

Read More