Erik Karlsson should be an option for the Islanders
Erik Karlsson is on the trade market. The Norris winner clearly wants to leave the Sharks and play for a contender. Well, it just so happens that the New York Islanders are in dire need of a puck moving defenseman. Their powerplay was sickeningly bad against the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs.
Is there a potential match here? Like Karlsson, Lou Lamoriello wants to win the Stanley Cup. If he means that, he should pursue the three-time Norris winner for a trade.
Make The Money Work
The main sticking point is the $11.5 million cap hit on the Swede’s contract. However, I think the Isles could be creative here.
San Jose general manager Mike Grier has a habit of getting fleeced on some recent trades. The Devils did so well picking up Timo Meier, they finessed him again with the Mackenzie Blackwood deal. Lamoriello should definitely believe he could make Grier retain some of Karlsson’s egregious salary. If there’s a way to keep some flexibility to bring back the Isles free agents, this is a no-brainer.
I’m of the mindset that acquiring Karlsson would atone for the sins of losing Devon Toews for pennies on the dollar. In a perfect world, Lou would have found a way to keep the former Quinnipiac Bobcat. His acquisition was one of the main reasons why the Avs turned into a contender and won the Stanley Cup in 2022. In the three seasons since, the Islanders have desperately needed an elite powerplay quarterback.
Pay The Piper
The Islanders do have the pieces to make it happen. The question will just become what Grier is willing to accept.
Once upon a time, I was very bullish on Noah Dobson. I can tell you in the months since that article I have made a complete 180 on him. His production does not make up for his defensive lapses. He is also nowhere near a good enough skater to man the Isles powerplay. His deficiencies at the point was one of the reasons why the special teams struggled so much in the playoffs.
However, he could be sold as a Karlsson replacement to San Jose. He’s only 23 and is on a bridge deal paying him $4 million for one more season.
Another piece that must be attached is Josh Bailey. He is inching towards the exit door and his $5 million cap hit would help make the deal more feasible. Another contract I would add is Cal Clutterbuck. He is one-third of the Isles’ beloved fourth line but is too injury-prone to pay him $1.75 million per season.
Cherries On Top
Right there you have $10.75 million in salary going to the Sharks. Karlsson’s salary is only $750,000 more than that. Now you add some more sweeteners that could hopefully convince Grier to retain a few million on the four years of EK65’s deal.
Right away I would be willing to add Simon Holmstrom. He finally made the jump to the NHL after being drafted in the first round in 2019. He’s shown some promise as a two-way forward and is 22 years old. Oliver Wahlstrom is an RFA but I’d happily throw his rights in. Look at the Devils sending Yegor Sharangovich‘s rights in the Tyler Toffoli deal. The Isles don’t have many draft picks but you have to give something to get something.
A second-round and fourth-round pick next year would be a good start. I’d even give San Jose a fifth-round pick in 2023. That’s an instant home run for Lou if Grier retains $3-3.5 million per season. Yes, they become an older team but having one of the best defensemen in the league would truly open the window for New York. If the Sharks want, I think a depth forward like Nico Sturm or Oskar Lindblom wouldn’t hurt to take back.
I’m gonna compose everything I wrote into an actual trade offer. Let us know what you think.
New York Islanders acquire: Erik Karlsson ($3.5 million per season retained), Nico Sturm
San Jose Sharks acquire: Noah Dobson, Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck, Simon Holmstrom, Oliver Wahlstrom’s RFA rights, 2024 second-round pick, 2024 fourth-round pick, 2023 fifth-round pick
The Isles blueline would look like the following:
Adam Pelech – Erik Karlsson
Alex Romanov – Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc – Scott Mayfield (assuming new contract is agreed)
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