Kyle Dubas Reportedly Wants to Trade Norris Trophy-Winning Defenseman
Kyle Dubas is prepared to trade Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, and in a heartbeat no less, as per the latest reports as the Penguins look to be sellers.
At 34, Erik Karlsson can't be in his prime anymore, but he's still a commodity. The Pittsburgh Penguins would trade him "in a heartbeat," as reports have it, which makes him an attractive choice for teams seeking offense on the blue line.
A three-time Norris Trophy recipient, Karlsson remains one of the greatest power-play quarterbacks in the league with great even-strength numbers.
His 40 points rank 11th among NHL blueliners as of Tuesday and his solid play at the 4 Nations Face-Off proved he's still capable of thriving on the grand stage.
But he's not a good match for every club. His lack of defensive prowess is a minus, so he's best employed in a sheltered offensive spot.
His $10-million cap hit for the rest of his contract is another hurdle, although should Pittsburgh offer to cling to 50% may make him more palatable. And Karlsson's hard-sell no-movement clause has him in control over any deal.
Detroit, Dallas and Florida could be great fits for Karlsson
Aside from that, he has to generate a lot of excitement, with three playoff clubs jumping out as potential fits right off the bat: the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Florida Panthers.
If Karlsson's willing to go, their GMs owe themselves a look to determine what can be arranged, and we will get more clarity over the next 10 days as the trade deadline draws nearer.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Bobby Brink | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Morgan Rielly | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jonny Brodzinski | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Noah Cates | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Kirill Marchenko | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| David Pastrnak | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Tyson Foerster | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Cam Fowler | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Patrik Laine | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Oskar Sundqvist | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Nick Suzuki | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Urho Vaakanainen | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Dylan Cozens | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Zachary Bolduc | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Simon Edvinsson | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Mitch Marner | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Sam Bennett | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Adam Fantilli | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brad Marchand | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Neighbours | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 58 | 41 | 14 | 3 | 85 | |
Capitals | 58 | 38 | 12 | 8 | 84 | |
Stars | 58 | 37 | 19 | 2 | 76 | |
Maple Leafs | 58 | 36 | 20 | 2 | 74 | |
Golden Knights | 58 | 34 | 18 | 6 | 74 | |
Panthers | 59 | 35 | 21 | 3 | 73 | |
Oilers | 58 | 34 | 20 | 4 | 72 | |
Wild | 58 | 34 | 20 | 4 | 72 | |
Lightning | 57 | 33 | 20 | 4 | 70 | |
Hurricanes | 58 | 33 | 21 | 4 | 70 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||