Trade Deadline Buzz: The Winds are Shifting on Erik Karlsson’s future in Pittsburgh?

Last March in his Post-Trade Deadline Press Conference Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas made it a point multiple times to mention Erik Karlsson as part of the core and a player he envisioned as an asset to young players coming up and potentially still being part of the solution when the Penguins were ready to truly compete again.

That held firm for a while and into this season. No Trade Demand is coming but there’s been a nudge from the To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

And the Penguins are ready to accommodate things, To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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Ottawa has been a situation both sides have kicked around privately. Should Karlsson end his Hall-of-Fame career where it began? Indications are the Senators Brass has the same concerns we’ve seen in Pittsburgh. Is Karlsson going to be motivated for a fringe playoff team and does he elevate them enough when you’re more than one piece away? Then there’s the $5 million signing bonus Karlsson is owed July 1 that is going to be a factor for a place like Ottawa. Karlsson is only owed $16.5 million over the next two seasons, but $11 million of the $16.5 million is due through a signing bonus that has casted even more doubts Karlsson is a route Ottawa will go. The Senators have dished out some massive contracts to their own, Jake Sanderson, Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris and Thomas Chabot each making around $8 million per season and all five received $0 in signing bonuses for the length of their eight-year deals. Smaller market teams like the Senators just won’t do it…..

Columbus To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Contenders to Watch If they emerge ahead of the deadline:

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[hide] Two Darkhorse Teams there’s been some rumblings out of the Four Nations linked to Karlsson: Florida and Vegas…………..[/hide]

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— It would not stun some around the league that Pittsburgh emerges as a ‘surprise’ destination for defenseman To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

— As more teams have Rickard Rakell on their board with the rising cap and his ability to mesh with high-end talent, the buzz around the Penguins hasn’t changed in that there’s no urgency to move Rakell as the team is still prioritizing keeping some talent around Sidney Crosby in the Top-6 for next season. Pittsburgh has put a high ask on Rakell. Some of the more interesting calls on Rakell, though, To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

— Among the most calls the Penguins are getting on pending free agents is To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

— Pittsburgh has put a third round asking price To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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