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Can The Oilers Pull Off A Trade For Erik Karlsson?

Trey Daubert / NHL / January 19, 2023

Can The Oilers Pull Off A Trade For Erik Karlsson?

Erik Karlsson is playing as a man possessed. The Sharks’ defensemen is probably a lock to win the Norris Trophy at this point too. Karlsson, 32, has 62 points in 46 games and is on pace to shatter career highs in everything. That’s while playing for a rebuilding Sharks team.

A trade feels inevitable at this point. The Sharks need to start over and Karlsson has rebuilt his stock to the point where his $11.5 million AAV doesn’t feel like an albatross contract either. The Sharks have already given their asking price on a potential trade too.

The Florida Panthers feel like an obvious fit, but what about the Edmonton Oilers? Can you imagine Karlsson leading the charge on a powerplay that also includes Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? That’s the type of move that could propel the Oilers to the Stanley Cup…

Turns out that’s something that’s already been discussed. Check out what Elliotte Friedman had to say in his latest column.

“12. I don’t think it ever got to Erik Karlsson, but I do think the Oilers and Sharks had legit conversations about the revitalized defender.”

The math on a deal like this would obviously be tricking. The Sharks have already come out and said they’re willing to retain on Karlsson too. If you include Cody Ceci and his $3.25 million AAV as part of the trade, there is a pathway to getting this done. Karlsson would also slide right in as the top line right D for Edmonton taking Ceci’s spot next to Darnell Nurse. If you’re going to pick an ideal d man partner for Karlsson, it would be a guy like Nurse too.

Adding Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele to the deal gets you really close. Again, it remains to be seen how much San Jose is willing to retain. If Edmonton is willing to add in enough first rounders to make the deal go through, the pathway is there.