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Should the Penguins keep or trade defenseman Erik Karlsson?



The Penguins have a big decision to make this offseason: keep or trade defenseman Erik Karlsson. Patrick is back on the show, and he and Hunter look back on the 2024-25 season for Karlsson as well as get into whether they should trade him or see what he can do under a new coach with a new system. Then, it’s officially official, Mike Sullivan will stay in the Metropolitan Division as he was hired by the New York Rangers. They talk about the hiring and how it’s put up or shut up time for the Broadway Blueshirts this season. Finally, the career of Marc-Andre Fleury has come to an end, they reminisce on his career and time as a Pittsburgh Penguin.

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14 Comments

  1. @theretiringbarber

    HE NEEDS TO BE ON A CONTENDER ,i AM SURE HE MUST HAVE BEEN FED UP WITH THE OPPOSITION SCORING AGAINST THEM ON THE FIRST SHOT OF MOST GAMES !

  3. @PENS68

    I agree about Erik Karlsson, I personally would like to see the Penguins keep him, just to see how he operates with a new coach and if they go out and get a steady defenseman to play with him. There is still a lot of talent there.

    I second with both of you if they trade him, they must go out and get a defenseman who can drive offense. Despite his struggles, he still put up 53 points and who is going to make up those 53 points on the backend if the trade Karlsson? Kris Letang cannot do it anymore, Connor Timmins isn't going to do it, Ryan Graves isn't going to do it and despite Matt Grzelyck having a surprising 40 point season, I doubt he returns next season. So yeah they would have to get someone who can drive offense if they trade Karlsson.

  4. @mikecrow8444

    Sorry, but there isn’t going to be a defenseman to “fix” EK… he’s a nice 4th forward who is at his best on a team that plays pond hockey. And who knows, that might be the Pens next year.

    The best case is to trade EK, find a true #1 LHD who can do it all and can maybe get the best out of an aging Letang. Then find a really solid #2 RHD.

    Where did I come up with this idea? The Caps and how they acquired Chychrun to extend the life of John Carlson, then signed Matt Roy to solidify the second pair. Easier said than done though.

  9. @Jgardonis

    I feel EK65 could get traded and likely will because it just hasn’t worked here like we all hoped. But I don’t think they should trade him unless they an incredible offer because 1) There are no better options than him in the UFA market for driving offense in defensemen 2) Since it doesn’t seem Grzelyck is gonna be back, no one else is driving offense as from the Pens D-core 3) maybe a different coach can help him and pair him up with a defenseman who stays at home. I know it’s not ideal to bring back EK65 and Letang when the D-group was so bad, but there aren’t any clear better options. If EK65 stinks again this year, then trade him. He has only 1 more year on his contract, and by then, Pens prospects like Pickering and Brunicke may be full time NHLers by then

  10. @BG1885

    EK was never the right fit for this team. If they had watched Sharks add EK to a roster that already had Burns. 2 offensive D men in your top 4 just doesnt work.

    Chychrun should have been our target when he was in AZ, not EK. Cheaper, younger, just as talented offensively and more responsible defensively

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