Sidney Crosby appears set to remain with the Pittsburgh Penguins heading into the 2025-2026 season. However, according to a report by Chris Johnston, the name surrounded by complete uncertainty is Erik Karlsson.
“He’s willing to be moved. That helps because he obviously has a no movement clause, but, it’s obviously only to a few places. Pittsburgh rightly views him as an asset. More of an asset the closer he is to the end of his deal. He’s down to two years on that contract. The contract itself becomes less of a problem. It becomes a pretty movable object. It just might not be this summer.”
In recent days, rumors about a possible trade have been growing, and surprisingly, Brad Marchand and the Florida Panthers have emerged as an option for the Swedish player.
Will Erik Karlsson be traded by Penguins because of his contract?
Erik Karlsson’s contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins runs through the end of the 2026-2027 NHL season. He originally signed an eight-year deal in 2019, and after being traded to Pittsburgh in 2023, he has two seasons remaining.
This means he will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027, when he’ll be 37 years old. That’s why, as Johnston mentions, the Penguins are already considering a trade to get something in return before he hits the market.