Even though you take Granlund and Petry back, which gm would pay 2 first-rounders for a player who completely controls where he goes and wants out?

If we dont retain the return will likely just be the cap space

This is an oversimplification... Karlsson has interest in multiple teams, he does want out but the sharks have multiple offers so its not as though he'll go for peanuts because of the NMC. In this case it'd be peanuts cuz there is no retention

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that the Sharks only have two and not multiple offers. But if I would be gm I would not trade for Karlsson.

Two is multiple...

Unfortunately your defacto GM is very interested in Karlsson

There are reports of a mystery team in on Karlsson but I just assume its only the Canes and the Guins

Need to add Rutta as well. PIT would need to clear as much cap as possible for the next two years to take Karlsson at full cap hit. I wouldn't be opposed to it though as I view Petry a million overpaid, Granlund three million overpaid, and Rutta a million overpaid. So five million is better spent on the risk that is Karlsson than those three.

If Pens get Karlsson and clear Petry AND Granlund, as a Pens fan I'd be good with this deal personally.

The other thing I'd say is that that cap hits roughly match here...but the two guys the Pens send to the Sharks are off the books in two years, not four. And this deal doesn't require any salary retention. Heck, even throw in Ty Smith and Poulin to sweeten the deal. I doubt Poulin ever really hits the ice with the Pens. Smith has shown flashes but I think POJ has his equivalent roster spot locked down.