3 teams that should try to trade for Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson may be 34 years old and past his truly elite days, but that doesn't mean teams shouldn't line up for his services following a report that stated the Pittsburgh Penguins would trade him in a "heartbeat."

The three-time Norris Trophy winner is still a difference-maker offensively. He's an elite power-play quarterback, his even-strength offensive metrics are strong, and his 40 points are tied for 11th among NHL defensemen entering play Tuesday. Karlsson's impressive performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off showed he can still elevate his game when the stakes are high.

However, Karlsson isn't a fit with every team. He's not a strong defender so shouldn't be tasked with combatting opposing top lines. There's also the matter of fitting him into the cap puzzle. Karlsson has two more seasons left on his contract at a $10-million cap hit, though that could theoretically get knocked down to $5 million if the Penguins are willing to retain 50% - which they should be if they want to maximize a return. Karlsson's contract also contains a full no-movement clause, so he'd have a say in where he goes, if he gets traded at all.

While Karlsson is bound to generate plenty of interest on the trade market, three teams stand out as particularly strong fits.

Dallas Stars

The Stars have already made a notable trade, acquiring Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks before the 4 Nations break. That doesn't mean they should be done, though.

Dallas still has cap space with Tyler Seguin on long-term injured reserve for the remainder of the regular season. Top defenseman Miro Heiskanen was given a month-to-month timeline in early February after undergoing knee surgery, and his return date is unclear.

Karlsson would be an excellent fit for the Stars, greatly helping their 21st-ranked power play. Assuming Heiskanen returns for the playoffs, his pairing would play the matchup role, while Karlsson could thrive on a more sheltered second pair.

The Stars might have to offload Matt Dumba - signed through next season at $3.75 million annually - as part of the deal, but the Penguins should be willing to take on bad contracts for extra draft capital. Ceci or Lyubushkin could be included instead if preferred, and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas acquired both during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dallas only owns one pick in the first four rounds of the upcoming draft, so it may have to dip into its 2026 selections and prospect pool to make a deal work. Perhaps a young NHLer like Mavrik Bourque could be a key piece of the package.

Regardless, Karlsson would likely be thrilled to join a legitimate Cup contender in a warm weather, no-income tax state.

Florida Panthers

Speaking of warm weather, no-income tax states, enter Florida. The defending Stanley Cup champions have a legitimate shot at repeating, but they'll need some reinforcements on the back end having opted not to replace Brandon Montour, who departed in free agency.

Karlsson and Montour are both offensive-minded, right-shot defensemen, so the Swede could be a seamless replacement on the team's second pairing alongside the steady, sure-handed Niko Mikkola.

There are obstacles to overcome, though. The Panthers don't own a pick in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft, so the package would have to be centered around prospects and/or future picks.

The Panthers don't have an obvious contract to move out, so fitting Karlsson - even at $5 million - would be extremely tight. It could be done, though the club might have to ice the minimum 20-player roster down the stretch. It's also possible someone lands on LTIR, which would allow Florida to fit Karlsson in without any gymnastics.

Detroit Red Wings

If you told a hockey fan in the mid-2010s that Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Erik Karlsson could all be on the same roster, they'd assume that team would be genuinely competing for a Cup. But that's not the case in 2025.

The Red Wings are on the fringe of the playoff picture as they aim to end an eight-year postseason drought. They enter Tuesday occupying the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but the race is incredibly tight. That begs the question whether Karlsson would even waive his no-movement clause to join Detroit.

For Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, it makes more sense to surrender assets for a player with additional term like Karlsson rather than a rental. Karlsson could slot in on the team's second pair behind Moritz Seider and serve as a key mentor for both Seider and Simon Edvinsson.

Detroit could make a trade work more easily than the other teams on this list. Yzerman has a full cupboard of draft picks and one of the NHL's deepest farm systems. The club also has enough cap space to take on the entirety of Karlsson's contract, if necessary.

If Karlsson's willing to go, there's no reason why Yzerman shouldn't try to make it happen.

(Cap source: PuckPedia)