It’s genuinely the lull of the NHL Offseason. There are not any arbitration hearings, as all of the gamers have new contracts. There are solely a handful of RFAs, together with Mason McTavish, Marco Rossi, and Luke Hughes, in search of new offers. Nonetheless, there’s some hypothesis concerning the destiny of Erik Karlsson with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Relationship again to final season, there was discuss concerning the Penguins doubtlessly shifting on from Karlsson. He has by no means actually match into the Penguins’ system. Although his numbers are usually not horrible, Karlsson just isn’t the 100-point participant he was with the San Jose Sharks. However the hypothesis grows, and one of many groups linked to Erik Karlsson has been the Detroit Purple Wings.
As Jim Biringer of NHLRumors.com and Full Press Hockey mentioned with Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now on a latest episode of the Full Press NHL Podcast, is there a match for Erik Karlsson on the Detroit Purple Wings?
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: Carter Hart and Erik Karlsson
Jim Biringer: “I noticed a few articles drop that you simply had, the place they have been speaking about Erik Karlsson, Nazem Kadri’s names have come out, and talked about the Wings. However do you actually see matches with these two gamers on that staff? I imply, it doesn’t really feel like Kadri goes anyplace. However looks like Karlsson and Detroit appears to all the time come up.”
Bob Duff: “I simply don’t see the match with Karlsson, partially due to the wage, however principally as a result of, at this stage of his profession the place he’s going to assist a staff principally goes to be on the facility play. And the Purple Wings had an amazing energy play final 12 months. So why would you wish to mess with that? I feel their drawback is five-on-five targets, and I nonetheless don’t know the place they’re going to get five-on-five targets this 12 months, as a result of they actually didn’t herald something aside from (James) van Reimsdyk.
However once more, he’s a man that has just about made hay on the facility play, like he’s not going to attain. I don’t suppose quite a lot of five-on-five targets. So I simply don’t see, and from Karlsson’s viewpoint, why would he wish to come right here? Like, in case you’re at this stage of your profession, don’t you wish to attempt to win the Stanley Cup, and also you don’t wish to go to a staff that, even when they made the playoffs, they’re nonetheless most likely fairly a number of years away from the place you could possibly say they have been a cup contender.”
As Duff mentions, the Purple Wings don’t wish to transfer their high prospects, which is one thing a staff just like the Penguins would really like in trade for Karlsson. To not point out, why mess with factor? Just like the Penguins energy play, the place the models have been clicking on all cylinders, Pittsburgh took a step again on the person benefit when Karlsson was added to the fold. There’s solely a lot puck to go round. Simply look what occurred in San Jose when Brent Burns and Karlsson have been there collectively.
NHL Rumors: The Erik Karlsson Commerce Hypothesis Continues
The match isn’t there as a result of, realistically, are the Detroit Purple Wings a playoff staff this season? If they’re, possibly they revisit it on the commerce deadline, but when they aren’t, why would Karlsson wish to go to Detroit?
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