Penguins’ hectic trade deadline : possible set up for monster move this summer!
Rumours are intensifying that something much bigger is in the works in Pittsburgh…
HockeyFeed
The 2024 trade deadline might be in the rearview, but every time the Pittsburgh Penguins look back, they see what they lost in significant transactions made by general manager Kyle Dubas. Several moves took place in Pittsburgh, the main headline being Jake Guentzel moved to the Carolina Hurricanes, however insider Elliotte Friedman believes it could be a first step into a much bigger trade that could take place this summer. On the 32 Thoughts podcast on Monday, Friedman suggested a reunion between Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and the Ottawa Senators, explaining how there could be a way the star blue liner returns where his NHL career began. Though Friedman acknowledged that the transaction could be difficult, he believes former Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson, who is now one of their assistant coaches, could push to make it happen.
“It’s not going to be an easy one to move, it definitely isn’t…I’ll say this, there is going to be a lot of focus on Ottawa, if there’s one team that you would think would consider it, it would be them with Daniel Alfredsson there.
”If it’s not Ottawa, and don’t forget, Karlsson has a lot of control here, it’s hard to see where it makes sense. I think the Sens are going to be a really, really busy team in the offseason, I think they had a lot of conversations that will get punted into the summer.”
Once GM Dubas was done making moves at the trade deadline, he made it sound like his roster could undergo more significant changes this summer, looking to make room for younger players coming in. When you look at the Senators, they’re pretty much working on the opposite, getting some veteran players on board to guide the young team and look into taking part in this huge trade scenario.
Karlsson would also have to be on board as his contract holds a no-movement clause, which he would have waive for a return to Ottawa. There is also the question of his very expensive cap hit that the Penguins currently carry at $10 million of his $11.5 million annual average value through 2026-27.
I’m not sure the Senators would agree to take on that much in a trade, but the idea of Karlsson returning to Canada alongside one of his closest friends in Alfredsson is certainly a feel-good story.
But maybe not for the Penguins and their fanbase…
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