NHL Rumors: Big weekend for Erik Karlsson trade, and impact of Tom Wilson’s new deal
Anthony Scultore
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Today’s NHL Rumors dives into the latest rumblings regarding a potential Erik Karlsson trade, and what does Tom Wilson’s new deal mean for the Washington Capitals.
Whether you are into the latest trade buzz, signing news, and more, stick with The Daily Goal Horn.
Related: Kyle Dubas names himself Penguins GM
NHL Rumors: Erik Karlsson trade
When Drew O’Connor reached a pre-arbitration deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it opened up the 48 hour second buyout window.
Speculation regarding an Erik Karlsson trade to the Pens has been swirling for well over a month, and a buyout this weekend could signal a deal is imminent. Two potential buyout candidates would be forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Jeff Petry, who both have two years left on their contracts.
“I am very curious to see if by the time the buyout window closes on Sunday we have some clarity on Erik Karlsson,” Elliotte Friedman said NHL Network. “I had a couple of people tell me to keep an eye on this weekend. There’s going to be an attempt to see if this gets closed.”
Karlsson, 33, had a monster season with 101 points in 82 games in 2022-23 earring him another Norris Trophy. However, he comes with a big contract that has four years remaining, an AAV of $11.5M, and a full no-move clause.
According to Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff, the San Jose Sharks want a big return that no one is willing to match but that may soon change.
While Dubas has the blessings of his veteran leaders and ownership, they may still need to get a third party involved to bring the cap hit down. That being said, forward Jake Guentzel had ankle surgery and will be out at least 12 weeks which makes buying out Granlund less attractive and less likely that the Pens may want to move a decent forward.
Tom Wilson new deal
The Washington Capitals inked power forward Tom Wilson to a seven-year deal with an AAV of $6.5 million on Friday.
“Tom possesses all the intangibles needed to win in this league and we are extremely pleased to sign him to a long-term contract, giving him the opportunity to finish his career in a Capitals’ uniform,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. “Throughout his career, Tom has improved every facet of his game through his drive and competitiveness. We feel his work ethic and leadership qualities will be a tremendous asset to our organization for years to come.”
NHL.com
Wilson, 29, registered 13 goals and 22 points while being limited to 33 games due to offseason ACL surgery. After finally getting into the lineup in January, he suffered an ankle fracture blocking a shot that led to more time missed.
There’s no doubt that Wilson is one of the most-feared players in the game. It’s not just because he’s physically intimidating but because he can play. For his career, Wilson has registered 295 points in 680 contests.
While this is a good deal for the Caps now and avoids the possibility of losing him to a division rival at the end of the next season, it will be problematic later.
Wilson’s new contract will take him to the age of 37 and has a modified no-trade clause per CapFriendly, which could limit the Caps ability to trade him. Add in factors like natural regression, wear and tear due to his playing style, and you can see this deal being problematic in the not too distant future.