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NHL Rumors: Grading Hayes and Blackwood trades, Karlsson suitors, PLD stays in LA

By Scott Rogust

Apr 25, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes (13) scores a goal on New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) during the shootout period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes (13) scores a goal on New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) during the shootout period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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NHL rumors
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

NHL rumors: Erik Karlsson trade suitors revealed

If there was ever a time for the San Jose Sharks to get premium trade value for a top defenseman, it’s right now. At the NHL Awards on Monday night, Erik Karlsson won the Norris Trophy for the league’s top defenseman after putting up 101 points and is now the third time he has won the award.  But, all the attention is on where Karlsson will play next season.

The Sharks and Karlsson are working to negotiate a trade in which the star defenseman will play elsewhere. Karlsson expressed at the NHL Awards that he would prefer to get dealt to a contender so he could win his first Stanley Cup.

There is now an update as to which teams have expressed interest in acquiring Karlsson.

According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Carolina Hurricanes, Seattle Kraken, and Toronto Maple Leafs have all spoken with the Sharks about a Karlsson trade.

These three teams mentioned do fit the description of a “Stanley Cup contender.”

The Hurricanes are a near perennial contender out of the Eastern Conference every season. This year, the Hurricanes fell to the red-hot Florida Panthers in the Conference Finals. Adding Karlsson to a defensive group alongside Brent Burns? That could create some problems in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto, meanwhile, made it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004 but was subsequently swept by the Panthers. Sheldon Keefe is staying put as head coach, potentially on a long-term extension. It will be interesting to see how new general manager Brad Treliving managed to build a roster that could contend for the Cup.

Then there is the Kraken, who shocked the world in just their second season in existence. They knocked out the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the opening round of the playoffs and pushed the Dallas Stars to seven games in the second round before ultimately getting eliminated. Adding Karlsson to the mix could push Seattle over the edge in what is a competitive Western Conference.

With trades flying this week, it will be interesting to see if Karlsson does get dealt while the league is in Nashville.

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