Trade Watch: 3 Defensemen Being Discussed in Deals

The NHL's trade rumor mill has been flying of late as insiders across the league have confirmed trade talks between general managers have picked up in a major way of late. We normally see the deals begin around the end of the November and expect to see a very busy season of transactions. When it comes to defensemen, expect to see several traded this season, with these three blueliners recently moving up the trade lists:

John Klingberg, Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks haven't won a game in regulation yet and continue to struggle. The team surprisingly signed Klingberg to a one-year deal worth $7 million late last summer as the Ducks basically paid for a future trade package. He's not expected to re-sign in Anaheim with a deal to a contender much more likely this season. Frank Seravalli recently linked Klingberg to the Toronto Maple Leafs and he's also been linked to the St Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings. Regardless, don't expect to see Klingberg in Anaheim come the new year.

Carson Soucy, Seattle Kraken

One of the more underrated defensemen in the league, Carson Soucy continues to have his name linked to trades. The 6-foot-5 versatile defender is a left shot who can play both sides, which certainly appeals to a number of teams. He's a pending free agent who makes $2.75 million against the cap and is an affordable option for a number of teams. Four points in 16 games, Soucy is a PK specialist and likes to use his body and long reach to disrupt plays. If the Kraken come back down to earth soon, expect to see them start offloading their rentals. 

Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks

One of the more surprising names on the trade watch list this season, Karlsson has been on fire to start this season. Sharks' management already moved Brent Burns and they recently admitted they are listening to trade offers on Karlsson at the moment. With a full no-movement clause it's all going to come down to the player's approval and so far, the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings have been two teams linked to a mega-deal. With the Sharks willingness to eat salary, expect to see more teams involved in the coming days.

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