The Pittsburgh Penguins may be gearing up for a rebuild, and one proposed trade scenario has them sending a high-profile defenseman to a divisional rival.
Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, one user suggested a blockbuster deal that would send Erik Karlsson to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Proposed trade:
To Penguins:
- Jesperi Kotkaniemi
- 2025 first-round pick
- 2026 third-round pick (from Dallas)
To Hurricanes:
- Erik Karlsson
This hypothetical trade would involve both teams offloading problematic contracts. The Hurricanes, who gained extra draft capital in the Mikko Rantanen deal, would be leveraging two picks to acquire a star blueliner.
For Pittsburgh, the deal nets a first-rounder this year, a third-rounder next year, and Kotkaniemi—a middle-six forward entering the fourth year of his eight-year, $38.56 million contract. After being a healthy scratch in the playoffs, Carolina may be open to moving him. Kotkaniemi posted 12 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 78 games last season and could slot in as a developmental piece alongside the Penguins’ younger core.
Karlsson, who has two years remaining on his eight-year, $92 million contract, remains one of the league’s top offensive defensemen. He tallied 11 goals and 42 assists for 53 points in 82 games. He would provide an offensive spark from the blue line and quarterback the power play for a Hurricanes team looking to retool after another playoff letdown.
Penguins Looking to Be Sellers
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been trying to remain competitive thanks to the presence of longtime stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. However, that era may be nearing its end.
After missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season, the team appears poised for roster changes. According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the Penguins are positioning themselves as sellers this offseason.
“They’re really the only true seller right now. Most teams near the bottom are looking to improve,” LeBrun said on TSN 1050.
With Pittsburgh shifting into sell mode, Erik Karlsson is expected to be on the trade block. There’s also speculation that Malkin, Letang, and possibly even Crosby could be moved—though Crosby has publicly expressed his desire to stay in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins ended the season with a 34-36-12 record.
Insider: Penguins Will Shop Karlsson
With the Pittsburgh Penguins not expected to contend next season, they are reportedly exploring trade options for Erik Karlsson, per NHL insider Frank Seravalli.
Karlsson appears at No. 13 on Seravalli’s offseason trade bait board for DailyFaceoff.
“League sources anticipate Karlsson’s name will surface frequently as GM Kyle Dubas begins reshaping the roster, either through a retool or a full rebuild,” Seravalli noted. “Karlsson has spent two seasons in Pittsburgh, with this past year being an improvement. His $10 million cap hit is a challenge, but there may be a team looking to bolster its defense with a skilled power-play quarterback. He showed flashes of vintage form at the 4 Nations Face-Off.”
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