Erik Karlsson’s future is one of the more interesting names in the latest NHL rumor cycle, and Toronto keeps coming up in the conversation.
Elliotte Friedman said a source he spoke with this summer believes there is a legitimate possibility Karlsson could end up with the Maple Leafs, depending on how things go for both Toronto and Pittsburgh. Friedman pointed out that former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas had already tried to land Karlsson once before, which tells you Toronto has had real interest in the veteran defenseman for a while.
The fit becomes even more intriguing because Karlsson is in the final season of his contract. If the Penguins slide out of the playoff race, he could turn into a major rental target.
The 36-year-old still brings plenty of offense - he put up 66 points in 75 games last season - and he remains one of the league’s most productive blue-liners. He also carries a no-move clause, but Friedman believes Toronto would be an appealing landing spot if Karlsson decides he wants the best chance to chase his first Stanley Cup.
As Friedman put it, “He said Mats Sundin, Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, Toronto.”
Detroit, meanwhile, is dealing with a very different kind of problem. The Red Wings are heading into camp with a contract mess that has left even their own people unsure where negotiations are supposed to go next.
That situation includes Simon Edvinsson, the 21-year-old restricted free agent who still needs a new deal. Bob Duff reported on the Full Press Hockey Podcast that Edvinsson’s agent, Peter Werner, is basically waiting for Detroit to hire a permanent general manager before anything serious can move forward.
Right now, the issue is simple: they don’t know who they’re supposed to be talking to. With the September 16 deadline approaching for players to sign eight-year extensions, that uncertainty is starting to look increasingly awkward.
Quinn Hughes is in a more conventional contract wait, but it is still taking longer than expected. Friedman said he’s surprised the process has dragged on this long and does not believe Hughes and Minnesota have had extensive talks yet.
One reason the pace has been so slow, according to Friedman, is the attention surrounding Hughes and the U.S. Olympic team this summer.
Even so, he said concern would naturally rise if Hughes is still unsigned when the regular season opens. For now, it doesn’t sound like alarm bells are ringing, but the longer it goes, the more attention the Wild’s decision will draw.
There’s also the Cale Makar situation in Colorado, and the Avalanche sound far more relaxed about where things stand. Joe Sakic told reporters he is “pretty confident” Makar will have a new contract done before the regular season starts.
Friedman said term may be the key issue there. Makar is eligible for what could become the largest contract in NHL history, but Sakic brushed off the September 16 deadline for an eight-year extension. The current thinking is that Makar could choose a three-year deal instead, then put himself in position for another massive contract when that one expires.
In Other News...
Wild Make An Unusual Goalie Move Fans Will Want Explained
The Wild are taking a little different approach to the NHLs new emergency goalie rules, bringing in Peter Thome as both the teams emergency backup and a hockey operations analyst. Bill Guerin announced the move as Minnesota adjusts to the leagues latest collective bargaining agreement, which now calls for clubs to keep full-time emergency backup goalies on staff rather than relying on the old, game-night scramble.
Thome brings a varied hockey background to the job, with NCAA Division I experience along with stops in the ECHL and AHL, plus work in hockey operations and video coaching. For Minnesota, it is the kind of practical, behind-the-scenes hire that fits the spirit of the rule change, but it also gives the Wild a rare look at how teams are reworking an important position that usually only draws attention in the most unusual circumstances. [Read more 🡒]
Former Wild Goalie Gets Another NHL Shot After Last Season
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For Minnesota, Petersens path is a familiar reminder of how quickly goaltending depth can turn over from one year to the next. He brings NHL experience from multiple stops and will now try to show Washington he still has enough left to stick, with the PTO offering him a shot to keep his career moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Charlie Stramel Is Giving The Wild A Much Bigger Center Question
Charlie Stramels path has started to look a lot different than it did when the Wild took him 21st overall in 2023. After modest production in his first two college seasons, he found another gear at Michigan State, where he finished with 44 points as a senior and turned himself into a much more intriguing center prospect than the one Minnesota thought it was getting a couple years ago.
That surge has a way of changing the conversation around a prospect, and its doing that here. Stramels rise in Corey Pronmans Under-23 rankings from 102nd to 42nd hints at a player who may be trending beyond the usual third-line projection, which matters for a Wild team trying to sort out its center future with Joel Eriksson Eks role and contract in the picture. [Read more 🡒]