Makes you Think

no way the hawks only get a 2nd for Granlund

That segment of the Pittsburgh fanbase that thinks that the Pens are going to get Erik Karlsson (with or without retention) without giving up a tp-6 forward or a top-4 defenseman or an A prospect are utterly delusional. This package of a backup goalie, a third-pairing defense prospect, a bottom-6 winger and a B prospect who's an underdog to have an actual NHL career wouldn't get you Mario Ferraro, let alone Karlsson, let alone Karlsson with $23 million retention.

Every fan base has their delusional fans (see: Leafs, Maple). I, myself, am just sick of these awful Karlsson ACs. I don’t even want the guy, lol, the Pens have enough defensive issues without this non-defender.

But they are Pittsburgh cap dumps and Dubas is the GM so that makes all of these guys super valuable.

Think this guy is just a troll post lol.

In fairness though (and I'm on team Pens do not get Karlsson, nor do I really want him for what it seems the return would be), there isn't really a top four defenseman or a top 6 forward to send from Pittsburgh:

- Malkin, Crosby and Letang are obviously not going anywhere.
- Graves (just signed) and Guentzel both have 12 team NTCs and they're supposedly working on Guentzel extension
- Pettersson and Rakell have 8 team NTCs
-Petry has a 15 team NTC (and pretty confident SJS is on it)
-Rust has a full NMC (lol Hextall)
-Smith has a 10 team NTC and they Just traded for him so wouldn't make sense to trade him again or they would've already probably.

So realistically their top 6 forwards and top 4 D could all block a trade to SJS.

If the reports are still correct and it's just CAR and PIT at the table, I sort of think they're both stuck in a way...

CAR would need to move Pesce which has obviously been rumored, he also has a 15 team NTC and I would bet SJS is on it. I'm pretty sure the DeAngelo trade is done they're just waiting on the league there. Assuming they want a 4C still unless they're using Drury? They have 3 goalies signed, one is exempt so they could send him to the A but think some of his cap would still stay at the big team. If they get Tarasenko I don't see how they can swing Karlsson, even if they don't get Tarasenko i think it's going to be really tight. I don't see them sending any of their top 6 or top 4 to SJS.

PIT would need to move Petry somewhere (again 99% sure he won't waive to SJS), they'd need to buyout Granlund or send him to SJS or elsewhere. Probably send Rutta somewhere. That gets them the space. After that they can basically offer POJ, Picks and prospects.

It probably comes down to which team can take on more of his cap. Just for example (total example here ACGM people) if the pens offer a 1st and 3rd round pick for Karlsson and only $1.5M retained but Carolina Offers a 1st and a 2nd for $3.5M retained does SJS take more retention and higher picks, or lower retention and lower picks?

I kind of think it's gonna shake out that he ends up staying in San Jose and they try and offload him again next summer when the cap goes up, they just won't get as much as they would this summer.