Penguins Trade News: B-L-O-C-K-B-U-S-T-E-R!

The much discussed and long-rumored Erik Karlsson trade finally came to fruition today. The three-time Norris Trophy winner is officially a Pittsburgh Penguin! Placing the cherry atop a reconstruct by Kyle Dubas ambitious as it was whirlwind in nature.

Frankly, I’m still trying to digest the details of the three-way blockbuster, which involved the Pens, Sharks and Canadiens. Perhaps the most complex deal this side of Craig Patrick’s three-team swap involving the Flyers and Kings (and, fittingly, Karlsson-alike Paul Coffey) I’ve witnessed in all my years of following hockey. But here goes:

From San Jose the Pens get Karlsson, fresh off an astounding 25-goal, 101-point season for the ages, and 22-year-old forward prospect Dillon Hamaliuk, a former second-round pick who stands 6’3” and tips the scales at 200 pounds. We also get the Sharks’ third-round pick in the 2026 Entry Draft.

The Sharks will retain $1.5 million of Karlsson’s hefty $11.5 million cap hit. Meaning we’re on hook for a cool $10 mil/season.

From Montreal, the Pens acquired 26-year-old bottom-six forward Rem Pitlick. A former third-round pick of the Predators, Pitlick’s displayed a modest scoring touch (21 goals in 123 games) at the NHL level. For better or worse, he fits coach Mike Sullivan’s mold of small (5’11” 186) puck-retrieving forwards.

Catching the stage coach heading out of town? Jeff Petry and his $6.25 million cap hit return to Montreal from whence he came last summer. (Actually, the Pens are retaining $1.562 million per season.) Joining Petry in the trek north of the border is Nathan Légaré, the 22-year-old firebrand forward prospect who returns to his home town after failing to gain traction in two seasons with the Baby Pens (a combined 15 goals).

Casey DeSmith, our backup goalie for the better part of five of the past six seasons, will likewise join the Canadiens. The Habs also get our second-round choice in the ’25 draft.

Pulling a virtual rabbit out of his hat, Dubas also traded the untradeable, shipping pariah Mikael Granlund and his $5 million cap hit to the Sharks along veteran defenseman Jan Rutta and our first-round choice next season (top-10 protected). The Sharks also got Montreal forward Mike Hoffman.

A few observations. I’m surprised Granlund was moved. In the wake of Jake Guentzel’s recent season-delaying ankle surgery, I thought the Finnish forward might serve as a top-six Band-Aid. With the dual departures of Petry and Rutta, Dubas almost totally erased Ron Hextall’s overhaul of our defense last summer, designed to provide a physical presence. Although he surrendered draft picks, our newly minted GM refrained from moving any of our top prospects, including first-rounders Brayden Yager, Owen Pickering and Sam Poulin.

Financially, the deal brings us within shouting distance of being cap compliant. We’re $79 K and change over the line, according to CapFriendly.

My initial knee-jerk take? Karlsson will certainly spice things up and add some pizazz to our power play and transition game, while greatly enhancing our shot at a postseason berth. To say nothing of sparking a renewed interest among Penguins Nation.

However, a quick glance at our top-six d of Karlsson, Kris Letang, Ryan Graves, Marcus Pettersson, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and…I guess…Chad Ruhwedel, gives me cause for concern. Graves and Pettersson aside, there’s just very little in the way of a defensive conscience and even less physicality.

It’s group (and team as a whole) very much built in Sullivan’s image.

It remains to be seen if that’s a good thing.

Anyway…back to the trade…and Dubas. Win, lose or draw, I give him a helluva lot of credit for having the courage of his convictions and for getting ‘er done. Not every GM could pull off a trade of this magnitude.

Prior to his arrival, the Pens were stale as month-old bread and badly in need of a shakeup.

Mission accomplished.