NHL Rumors: Penguins Could Trade Erik Karlsson In 3-Player Blockbuster

After failing to reach the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins may consider significant roster changes. 

One potential move involves trading veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson, and a hypothetical deal proposed via PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool suggests sending him to the Dallas Stars.

Proposed Trade Details:

• Penguins receive: Matt Dumba, Lian Bichsel, and a 2027 first-round pick
• Stars receive: Erik Karlsson

This trade would allow Pittsburgh to move Karlsson to a Stanley Cup contender while acquiring an NHL-ready defenseman (Dumba), a promising young blueliner (Bichsel), and a future draft pick.

What Pittsburgh Gains:

Matt Dumba – Signed to a two-year, $7.5 million deal last offseason, Dumba would provide offensive depth on defense for one remaining season. This year, he posted 10 points (1G, 9A) in 63 games.

Lian Bichsel – A 2022 first-round pick, Bichsel is on an entry-level contract with two years left. Though he only played three regular-season games, he has appeared in all three playoff games for Dallas.

What Dallas Gains:

Erik Karlsson – A three-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson would bolster the Stars' blue line as a second-pairing defenseman and power-play contributor. 

He has two years remaining on his $92 million contract and recorded 53 points (11G, 42A) this season.

Insider: Penguins Likely to Explore Karlsson Trade

Pittsburgh acquired Karlsson in a blockbuster August 2023 trade, but the move hasn’t yielded the desired results. With the Penguins missing the playoffs again, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman expects the team to shop Karlsson this summer.

Friedman noted on 32 Thoughts that Karlsson’s contract becomes more trade-friendly after a July 1 bonus payment, reducing his remaining cash owed to $11 million over two years. 

While teams may push for Pittsburgh to retain salary or include sweeteners, Friedman believes Karlsson is movable.

Penguins GM Challenges Karlsson

At Pittsburgh’s end-of-season press conference, GM Kyle Dubas called out Karlsson for his inconsistent performance, emphasizing that the defenseman must back up his desire to win with action.

"Erik is a polarizing figure, but we expect him to help lead this team back to contention," Dubas said. "His actions have to match his ambitions—consistency, preparation, and training like every other player. There were flashes of brilliance, but too many lapses. We need more from him, just as he should demand more from himself and the team."

Karlsson, a seven-time All-Star, remains a high-profile talent, but his future in Pittsburgh could depend on whether he and the team can align expectations for a turnaround.

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