Acquiring Erik Karlsson was a big splash worth making for the Pittsburgh Penguins

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
Acquiring Erik Karlsson was a big splash worth making for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Talk about a big splash by new GM Kyle Dubas.

Less than half a week into his new job, Dubas finished off a three-way trade with the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens to acquire Erik Karlsson. The team moved out salary, including trading goaltender Casey DeSmith. But no question about it, Karlsson makes the Penguins immediately better without having to sacrifice a major key piece of the roster to make it happen.

But it’s quite the splash for a team most expected to be in a difficult spot to make the postseason. But if you’re Pittsburgh, it’s the move you need to make to prove you’re a serious contender while Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are still around.

The Penguins missed the playoffs this year after a 16-year run, the longest of any team in the NHL. Everything was headed downward, so something had to give. The Penguins mostly made minor deals this summer – nothing that would push the team back into a competitive window. Karlsson changes that.

Karlsson is coming off of the best season of his career, registering 101 points en route to his third Norris Trophy. His defensive game still lacks, but there isn’t much more he could do on a San Jose team in a full rebuild. Karlsson knew that, and it’s why he wanted out. At 33, he still wants to win.

Will that be with the Penguins? They’re giving it their best shot, at least.

With Karlsson, it gives the Penguins another offensive defenseman alongside Letang. It’s the driving scoring force that’ll help contribute on the power play, and we know he can score at least 20 goals when healthy. The Penguins lost Jeff Petry and Jan Rutta, but the net gains here – the dominant scoring ability can’t be ignored. If Karlsson can put up triple digits on the Sharks, he surely can play competent hockey with Crosby and Malkin to pass to. Karlsson changes the Penguins’ power-play situation in a big way here.

A regression can only be expected for Karlsson, who had one of the best offensive seasons we’ve seen from a defenseman. At the very least, even Karlsson, at 75 percent of what he was this past year, would improve the power play by a metric tonne. He’s one of the best, if not THE best, PP quarterbacks in the NHL’s history.

And beyond that, Karlsson’s skating ability can’t be ignored, either. You can count on more scoring chances with Karlsson skating the puck through the neutral zone.

Karlsson’s health has been difficult to navigate over the past few years, but he played all 82 games last year. He looked reformed, in a way. If he stays healthy, he has a couple more good years left. He’s in the same window as the other core three, so they live and die by the sword. The Swedish defender is the youngest of the crop, too.

In Letang’s case, this should be beneficial. He’s been a workhorse throughout his career, which takes some of the burden off of him. We know Letang wants to win again, and Karlsson makes that a more realistic goal.

And, again: the team didn’t have to give up a key roster piece. A couple of picks, sure. Some middling players? Yep. But in a three-way deal, it could have been so much worse.

Dubas isn’t worried about the detractors. He joined this team, wanting to keep the dream alive. He’s taking a bet on a defenseman coming off the best season of his career, and while it’s still a gamble given his history, it’s one worth taking. Karlsson’s love for the game was evident last year, and now on a team with something to prove. They’re a better team today than in April when they were eliminated from the postseason.

Buckle up, Pens fans. It’s about to get spicy.

Betano

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