Erik Karlsson's Preferred NHL Team Has Been Revealed
It looks like Erik Karlsson has a preference when it comes to his next NHL team.
Karlsson requested to be traded after a record-breaking season where he became the first NHL defenseman since the 1990's to eclipse 100 points in a season.
Karlsson finished with 25 goals and 101 points, but his San Jose Sharks still finished with the fourth worst record in the NHL.
Destination Revealed
According to reports it seems that Erik Karlsson wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins would be a strong fit for Karlsson, as unlike the Sharks the Pens are firmly in win-now mode as new GM Kyle Dubas wants the last years of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin's prime to be maximized.
Why Pittsburgh?
Even though other teams like Carolina may be better on paper, Pittsburgh appears to be a better fit.
Carolina employs Karlsson's former teammate Brent Burns, an those two did not mesh on the ice while they were Sharks.
It is unlikely that in Carolina they would play any better than they used to.
In Pittsburgh, Karlsson would go into a top-tier culture led by living legend Sidney Crosby and would take the pressure off of Kris Letang who had multiple health scares last year.
San Jose would have to retain a large chunk of Karlsson's $11.5 million salary, and Pittsburgh would have to chip in top prospects like Owen Pickering or Sam Poulin, as well as draft picks.
| POLL | ||
Would acquiring Erik Karlsson make the Penguins Cup Contenders? | ||
| Yes | 1343 | 44.4 % |
| No | 1684 | 55.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
