The Toronto Maple Leafs want to make a push and win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1967. After advancing to the second round last season, the player they are looking to add this offseason is defenseman Erik Karlsson, who just won the Norris Trophy. The problem is that if they make a move for the star defenseman, they will have to move out some players to open up salary cap space and reports suggest that William Nylander would be a vital part of any Karlsson trade.
The New York Islanders meanwhile are one of the teams that would love to add Nylander to their top six. They reached the playoffs last year but their offense struggled and they need a boost offensively to make a Cup run next year. Nylander is a free agent after next season but the Islanders would eagerly add him with the hopes that he puts a veteran-heavy roster over the top.
The San Jose Sharks meanwhile are heading in the opposite direction. They are looking to rebuild from the ground up and will look to accumulate draft assets and prospects to help them contend in the near future. As a result, they will look to trade Karlsson this summer, at his peak value.
A blockbuster trade involving three teams is not only unlikely but difficult to pull off, especially if it involves two elite players. However, the Islanders, Maple Leafs, and Sharks would all benefit from a big trade this offseason. The Islanders and Maple Leafs would be adding star players to contending rosters while the Sharks would pick up a surplus of assets to help kickstart their rebuild.
Sharks Move Karlsson For a Haul
The best time to trade Karlsson is this summer. He’s coming off a year where he played in all 82 regular season games, scored 25 goals and 76 assists while contributing 3.0 defensive point shares to win his third Norris Trophy. At 33 years old, it’s unlikely he will have another season like the past one, especially considering he’s missed time to injury in the four seasons before that. While his long-term health is a concern for any team that wants to add him, a contender will make a move for the star two-way defenseman hoping he is the missing piece to a Cup contender. For the Sharks, they can move Karlsson for a strong return that can set them up for a quick and successful rebuild.