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Penguins' Erik Karlsson Trade Talks Reportedly Take New Turn

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Levine | Last updated Aug 1, 2025 12:49 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in full rebuild mode entering the new NHL season, and it has seen the front office engage with other teams in different trade talks. Pittsburgh has a few veteran players who could net them some strong assets for the future, and a late offseason trade could come about.

One of those players is veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has seen his name mentioned heavily of late. Karlsson still has a lot of value around the league, and it could see Pittsburgh land some quality pieces in return.

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the market for Karlsson may not be as open as originally thought. Outside of the Carolina Hurricanes, Seravalli isn't sure where the veteran star could be traded.

Frank Seravalli: Outside of Carolina...it becomes really difficult to...squint and see fits for Erik Karlsson moving forward; Karlsson has made it very clear...he wants to have a chance to win - Bleacher Report (7/29)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 31, 2025

Karlsson wants to play for a contending team at this point in his career, and most teams have already filled up their rosters. If Karlsson is going to be traded, he may want to consider other options or even a team that is on the cusp of being a Stanley Cup contender.

The veteran proved that he could still heavily impact games on the ice, and he just wants a chance to win a title before he calls it a career. With the Penguins last season, Karlsson put up 11 goals and 42 assists over 82 games played.

The Penguins missed the playoffs again, and it seems that a trade of Karlsson could be coming down the pipeline soon. If Carolina were to land the veteran, it could increase their chances of getting over the hump.

The Hurricanes already traded for defenseman K'Andre Miller this offseason, so Karlsson could give them a loaded blueline for the year. Carolina has fallen short each season, so landing Karlsson could be the missing piece to the puzzle.

But for now, it seems that the Penguins will be patient to see what else may open up with training camp starting up soon.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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