The Sharks and Erik Karlsson both want a deal

It’s always been said, but trading a player with a big contract is much easier to do in the summer. There are many factors, but the fact that a team can exceed the 10% cap during the off-season is one of them.

If the chances of Erik Karlsson moving during the season were slim, the chances of him moving during the summer are a little better. By the way, the defenseman’s camp and the organization’s camp want the same thing: a trade.

According to Pierre LeBrun, the team and the player met this week to discuss the matter. And both sides are of the same opinion and will work together to change the Swede’s address. I say work together, because the 33-year-old has a no-movement clause in his pact.

The problem isn’t the right-hander’s talent, but his contract. At $11.5 million for four more seasons, that’s a lot of money for a lot of years. As I just mentioned, yes, the talent is there, but the 2022-2023 season was his best, if not his only good, since leaving Ottawa.

Everyone’s theory on the subject is that Karlsson seems to perform best when he’s the number-one defender. As number-two defenseman behind Brent Burns for all those years in California, the right-hander was no shadow of the man who will win a Norris this season and has won two others in the Canadian capital.

San Jose will have to keep some salary, that’s for sure. But will Mike Grier want to keep 50% for four years? And the other question to ask from the perspective of the buying team: “Will Karlsson be the number one defenseman with his new destination?”

While the theory about his less-than-stellar performances over the past few years is sound, the question still needs to be asked…

One thing’s for sure, acquiring Karlsson will be a very big deal. It’s going to be expensive, but that’s the price you have to pay for a player of Karlsson’s calibre.

In gusts

– Read more.

– Back to basics for him.

Colorado isn’t new to the Avs most recently acquired forward. #GoAvsGo @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/AbDo8IAvSa

– Colleen Flynn (@THNFlynn) June 16, 2023

– What a player!