Erik Karlsson is auditioning for a trade out of San Jose!

The season was just under way that reports already emerged that the San Jose Sharks were willing to listen to potential trades on pretty much every player on their roster other than perhaps Tomas Hertl.

And one specific player is definitely stealing the show as defenseman Erik Karlsson is looking like his old self, collecting 10 goals and eight assists in 13 games. As Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star points out, Karlsson “looks as if he’s auditioning for a trade.”

McGran even jokes about how Karlsson’s cap hit $11.5 million would fit in the Toronto Maple Leafs, and even pushed by wondering “if the Sharks could retain half…and take back someone making around $5.685 million, and a sweetener or two.”

Karlsson has five years remaining on that contract and would be most likely coveted by several teams across the league if he lands on the trade market. Nick Kypreos also believes Karlsson would dramatically help any club out there and also wondered if San Jose would accept to retain “40 to 50 percent of the remaining value of his contract”.

With new Sharks general manager Mike Grier already proving he’s willing to shake things up by trading away veteran defenseman Brent Burns to the Carolina Hurricanes this summer, he could do the same with Karlsson, especially if he’s looking to join a contender ahead of the trade deadline.

It will however all come down to Karlsson’s no-movement clause and the Sharks’ willingness to carry up to $5.75 million in dead cap space if they agree to retain up to half of his annual cap hit for the next five years.

The watch is on.