Erik Karlsson’s name continues to circulate in the transfer rumors, and if the Pittsburgh Penguins, the most talked-about roster by observers, get the defenseman, some influential players on the team will be delighted.
Earlier this month, The Athletic reported that the Pens and their president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas, raised the case with Sharks general manager Mike Grier. In addition, Karlsson would have requested a transaction, and organizations likely to serve as home turf for the youngest recipient of the James Norris Trophy would also include the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes.
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In western Pennsylvania, however, the leaders seem to be quite serious. The evidence is that they have taken the opinion of captain Sidney Crosby and full-back Kristopher Letang, an influential player who plays in the same position as the Swede and advocates a similar attacking-focused style of play. According to the same source, the two athletes interviewed supported the penguins’ steps.
If Karlsson comes to Pittsburgh, Letang would remain the club’s main defender and play in the first defensive pair. He would also be willing to change his role in his powerplay unit to allow the prospective signing a quarterback role.
On the other hand, Dubas needs to pull off some salary maneuvers to attract Ottawa’s former senators. The roster is already more than $2 million over the cap, and the right-hander will have an annual impact of $11.5 million on his team’s mace through 2026-27.
The team eliminated from the playoffs this year are looking to bounce back and taking on the 33-year-old would add even more bite to their attack. Last season he scored 101 points in 82 appearances.