The Carolina Hurricanes are likely to call the Pittsburgh Penguins about defenceman Erik Karlsson should he become available, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.
LeBrun wrote in The Athletic in a story posted Friday that he believes the Penguins – who are sixth in the Metropolitan Division with 16 points in 19 games – aren’t likely to field offers for Karlsson until the new year, but should hear from Carolina if they do open his market. The three-time Norris Trophy winner is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and LeBrun reported in Thursday’s edition of Insider Trading the Hurricanes have interest in acquiring him.
LeBrun notes that the Hurricanes pursued Karlsson in the summer of 2023 before the San Jose Sharks ultimately traded him to Pittsburgh. He also pointed to similarities with veteran defenceman John Carlson, who the Hurricanes tried hard to sign this past summer, trading for his right before he joined the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1.
The Hurricanes won’t be the only team calling on Karlsson ahead of the March 1 deadline according to LeBrun, but the 36-year-old Swede does have full control over a potential trade with his no-move clause. Carolina’s 32 points this season are tied with the Minnesota Wild for tops in the NHL and the Canes project to be buyers ahead of the deadline as they chase a repeat Stanley Cup championship. LeBrun writes that without a Cup victory to date in his career, Karlsson could be motivated to accept to a trade to the Hurricanes should one come to fruition.
“The plan as I understand it, is for Karlsson and his camp to convene with Penguins GM Kyle Dubas in the new year to figure out a path forward if that does indeed include a trade,” LeBrun said Thursday on Insider Trading.
Dubas discussed Karlsson’s future during training camp with the Pittsburgh media.
“We also have Erik Karlsson,” Dubas said. “And those conversations with Erik have been very direct and very open and great. For us, when you’re a player of that calibre and you’ve achieved so much, everyone wants to handle it a different way. For us, it’s about being respectful plus being open with them about where we see things going here so that they are comfortable with that.
“The best way to go through that is to get them through the year, and if there’s a time where both people want to jump, then you jump and get it done.”
It’s been another strong season thus far for Karlsson, who has three goals and 19 points in 19 games. He tallied 15 goals and 66 points in 75 games last year.
Karlsson has a cap hit of $11.5 million for 2026-27 as he wraps up the eight-year deal he signed with the Sharks in July of 2019.