Trade Grades: Erik Karlsson To Pittsburgh
It actually happened. After months of Mike Grier acting like a complete dummy, he finally pulled the trigger on the Erik Karlsson trade. Now that the dust has settled, who actually won the trade? It’s time to hand out some trade grades.
Montreal Canadiens: 2025 second round pick via Pittsburgh, Jeff Petry at 25% retained, Casey DeSmith, Nathan Legare
Let’s start with Montreal since they’re the middleman in this trade. It’s hard to not like what they did here. What did they really give up here? Mike Hoffman is a low-key bum that’s making too much money and brings nothing to the table other than being a standstill sniper that can’t score goals anymore.
Hoffman had no value other than being an overpriced one year contract. Pitlick is a bottom pair forward that is barely an NHL caliber player. To get a second round pick, Casey DeSmith, and Jeff Petry at a reduced price? Where do I sign?
Petry has been successful in Montreal in the past. Just don’t put him on the powerplay and you’re good. This is an upgrade over what the Canadiens lost in the Joel Edmundson deal. Plus, the Canadiens could sell Petry if they want to down the road now that he’s even less of a cap hit. To be a pure middleman, this is all you could really ask for.
Grade: A-
San Jose Sharks: 2024 Pittsburgh first round pick, Mike Hoffman, Jan Rutta, Mikael Granlund
The biggest idiot running a team in the NHL strikes again. What an absolute moron. The Sharks eat 13% of Karlsson’s deal to drop it to a $10 million AAV. Grier took the absolute dumbest path in making this trade. If Grier was smart, he would have eaten a full 50% on Karlsson and gotten actual assets in return. Instead the Sharks have become a breeding ground for more bad contracts.
Mikael Granlund is totally worthless. I thought there was a chance he was going to get bought out. Granlund is one of the worst defensive forwards in the entire league and really doesn’t have enough offense to make up for it. Outside of making the occasional pass, he brings almost nothing to the table.
Granlund had 5 points in 21 games for the Penguins last year. They were dying to get rid of him and the Sharks took him.
What did you really get here? One protected first round pick that may or may not turn into something? Are they aware that Karlsson was a 100 point defenseman last year? This trade had to be made but retaining on Karlsson and getting nothing should be deemed as a pathetic return.
Again, Grier made a massive mistake here and I can’t stress it enough. Had San Jose eaten more money, they would have gotten a much better return. This puppy is a lost cause for another five years anyway. To come away with nothing here should be considered a disaster.
Grade: F
Pittsburgh Penguins: Erik Karlsson, Rem Pitlick, Dillon Hamaluik, San Jose 2026 third round pick
I understand that trading for Erik Karlsson is a risk. A risk that may well end up backfiring. Karlsson is now Pittsburgh’s highest paid player and he’s hurt a lot. Putting that aside, this should be considered a home run package.
Pittsburgh sent out a bunch of unwanted contracts for a guy that won and deserved the Norris Trophy. If you think about it, the Penguins would have had to sent a first round pick out just to get rid of Granlund. To package a bunch of broken parts for one of, if not the best offensive defenseman is a no brainer.
We also have to factor this in. Kyle Dubas is under a lot of pressure here. He’s dealing with an old roster that just missed the playoffs while trying to get the most out of the remaining years of the Crosby, Malkin, Letang core. Taking the offensive burden off of Letang is one way to do it.
This trade saved their season. Pittsburgh is back in the mix and they weren’t prior to this deal. How do you not love it? What exactly was the alternative if this trade didn’t get done? The Pittsburgh powerplay becomes lethal AND they somehow saved $3 million on the salary cap.
Dump bum players on bad deals, acquire 100 point defenseman, increase cap space. I’m finding a hard time understanding how this trade isn’t a home run.
Grade: A+
