The race to land Erik Karlsson is heating up, with five teams emerging as serious contenders for the Penguins’ star defenseman, according to Bleacher Report.
It’s a sign of the times in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are finally doing what they’ve avoided for years – rebuilding.
The writing was on the wall when they shipped Jake Guentzel to Carolina at last year’s trade deadline. That move wasn’t just about one player – it was a signal that the team was changing course.
These days, the Pens are all about tomorrow. They’re collecting draft picks like they’re going out of style and putting serious work into their farm system. Sure, they’ll still make a few small moves here and there, but the focus is clear: build for the future.
The losses are piling up, and Pittsburgh keeps sliding down the standings. More changes could be coming any day now.
That’s where Karlsson comes in. The talented defenseman hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in Pittsburgh. While he can still light up the scoreboard, something just isn’t clicking.
He’s their biggest trade chip right now, and with five teams in the mix, things could move quickly.
The Penguins aren’t calling it a rebuild – teams rarely do. But when you’re trading stars and stockpiling picks, well… if it looks like a rebuild and sounds like a rebuild…
