The Carolina Hurricanes may be circling back toward Erik Karlsson, and this time the path could be clearer than before.
Pittsburgh is expected to shift into seller mode before the March 1 trade deadline, and Karlsson stands out as one of the biggest names the Penguins could move. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic said Carolina should be viewed as an early favorite if Pittsburgh decides to open the door on the veteran defenseman.
LeBrun also noted the Hurricanes are likely to renew their pursuit after previously going after John Carlson. As he wrote:
“And I strongly believe the Hurricanes will come calling again on Karlsson once the Penguins decide it’s time to formally open up his trade market, which I suspect won’t be until the new year.”
Karlsson has been productive to start the weekend, leading Pittsburgh with 19 points in 19 games. But any deal would come with a major hurdle: his full no-movement clause.
That gives him the final word on where he goes, if he goes anywhere at all. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has already made clear the team will honor its veteran players’ no-trade and no-move clauses and work with them if a move makes sense for both sides.
While Karlsson’s future is one of the bigger names in the rumor mill, former Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson made headlines for a different reason: he’s tired of the league’s rising trade-request culture. Speaking on ESPN’s Thursday night broadcast, Johnson pointed to Detroit captain Dylan Larkin and didn’t hide his annoyance with players who want out after signing on for the long haul.
“I can’t stand these guys halfway through their contracts … bailing ship and wanting to go for greener pastures.”
Johnson also brought up Matt Duchene’s long trade saga in Colorado, saying Duchene requested a move in 2016 and recalling how the Avalanche leadership group, including Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon, went to Joe Sakic and said, “Get him outta here.”
He added that Larkin isn’t the only case, but made it clear he doesn’t like where the trend is headed.
In Minnesota, Bill Guerin is taking a much calmer approach with Quinn Hughes. The Wild GM said there’s no daily tug-of-war behind the scenes and no sense that the two sides are locked in some dramatic contract battle. Instead, Guerin framed it as a personal decision Hughes has to make in his own time.
“I think everyone imagines we’re having these intense negotiations every single day,” Guerin said. “We don’t talk about it, really.
I think because I’ve been in that spot before, I understand it maybe a little more, it’s not personal. It’s a life decision that he has to make and it’s his decision.
I get it.”
Guerin also said the Wild are not necessarily preparing to move Hughes if an extension doesn’t get done. When asked whether he could keep the star defenseman past the trade deadline without a new deal, Guerin said that was his stance for now, though he left room for things to change over the next few months.
Toronto, meanwhile, is still hunting for help on the blue line, but the market isn’t making life easy. The Maple Leafs want a top-four defenseman who can be part of the core beyond this season, but other teams are not eager to help them dig out of their cap situation.
David Pagnotta has also pointed to Dakota Joshua and Miles Wood as names that could be moved. Dealing players with term on their contracts could give Toronto the room it needs to chase a bigger defensive addition. Even then, any team willing to help solve the Leafs’ salary-cap problem is likely to ask for a premium in return.
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For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for answers on the back end, the appeal is obvious: this is about more than patching a hole for a playoff run. The challenge is finding a fit that makes sense now and later, and the names being discussed suggest Toronto is at least aiming high as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Tanev Concern Is Starting To Feel Bigger For The Leafs
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The concern is not just about availability, either. There has been growing analysis suggesting Tanevs defensive impact has slipped in recent seasons, which puts added pressure on Toronto to get the most out of him without overextending him. And with other roster questions still hanging over the club, from John Tavaress performance to the way goaltending numbers are being read, the Leafs are left trying to sort through a few uneasy trends at once while Anthony Stolarzs play continues to trend in a more encouraging direction. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Losing Streak Has Jim Hiller Searching For Signs Of Life
After a 5-2 loss to Minnesota, Jim Hiller spent much of his postgame session circling back to the same problem that has followed the Leafs through a five-game losing streak: the mistakes are piling up, and they are costing them at the worst possible moments. The coach pointed to the breakdown that led to Matt Boldys winning goal and said the group has to clean up its play if it wants to stop the slide.
Hiller also weighed in on several individual performances, including Gavin McKenna, John Tavares and William Nylander, as he tried to separate the rough results from what he still believes the team can become. There was frustration in the room, but also a measure of cautious optimism, with Hiller suggesting the Leafs still have enough talent to turn things around if the details start to improve. [Read more 🡒]