The San Jose Sharks have traded three-time James Norris Winner, Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Start by breaking down the trade and all the pieces that are going to the Sharks, Penguins, and Montreal Canadiens and what the Sharks are getting in defenseman Jan Rutta, and forwards Mikael Granlund and Mike Hoffman. Then, try to determine if it was a good trade for General Manager Mike Grier as he continues the Sharks’ rebuild and why it’s hard to judge the trade now until the futures of Hoffman, Rutta, and Granlund are determined. Finally, look at what’s next for the Sharks and why a timetable for the 2025-26 season has been set for them to start to be competitive again.
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14 Comments
Thanks, EK65.
Yes, it is a good trade, no matter what we get back, that was needed for rebuild in a faster way. And we actually just keeping 1.5M and get 1st pick back
Would have preferred eating more cap for more young future assets but understand that cap flexibility was their #1 priority with the intention to legitimately compete in 3 years. Disaster for me would be to try to half ass the rebuild and spend to compete too early.
I'm happy with the trade, glad it's done. Let's see what happens with the vets, but could each get returns in the future. Also excited for potentially (4? Duclair?) 1sts next year.
Terrible return for the best offensive defenseman in the game. 3 30 somethings is horrible. This does not help with the rebuild. You're supposed to get quality back.
Grier only retaining $1.5m shows me that he believes we might be able to compete in 2 years. Getting a 1st is nice
Your main objective was to get Karlson's contact off the books without eating too much of the contract. Your getting a #1 draft pick. Your in a rebuild, this trade wasn't going to change your roster immediately. As a Penguins fan I'm very happy. We got 3 more years of very exciting hockey before we fall off the cliff and are right where you guys are now
Karlsson's NMC reduced the return because he had control over where he went. And that Grier wouldn't retain more also decreased the return. Both likely combining to prevent a high value prospect coming back to San Jose. But Grier still did a tidy piece of work to get 3 further moveable assets, a 24/25 first rounder, and only $1.5m retained. In 3 seasons with $10m freed up from Karlsson, plus cap increases, that's $20m+ that are going to be available. Seeing us being competitive again in maybe 4-5 seasons. This trade is far more about the next few years than it is about today, and I'm perfectly fine with it.
Another L. Grier is a terrible GM
I really don’t want grandlund and Hofmann on our roster to start the season
A prospect would have been nice but this is a decent return. The rule of maximum 3 salary to retain is hurting the sharks for the trade deadline for sure. Lets not forget that with Karlsson out, Sharks has more chance to win the lottery!
Yes hope that $10M comes off the books soon and Sharks can get better players with that $$$
Bad trade. Should have started with a first and top prospect coming back. Then u can look at all the other details. Trading your best player and not getting quality pieces back is a fail. If the goal was to move the contract, then congratulations its gone. If it was to get quality assets back, its a miss
Bad trade all around