By: Ryan Bosworth | Follow me on Twitter / X @RyanJBosworth
In a recent article from The Athletic, the Boston Bruins were listed as one of eight teams that could be a potential fit for Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson. Despite being the last team listed of the eight teams, it’s important to note that Karlsson could be a fit in Boston. Shayna Goldman, who wrote the article for The Athletic, noted that Karlsson would be a fit dependent on management’s plans.
Goldman said that if Boston is looking to completely rebuild, Karlsson wouldn’t be a fit. But, she noted that if they were looking to retool, similar to what the Washington Capitals did last summer, Karlsson “could be on their radar.”
Karlsson was listed as a potential fit for the Bruins’ blueline, especially on the power play, as they don’t have a true power play quarterback aside from McAvoy and Mason Lohrei, who both have their flaws when it comes to performing on the top power play unit.
“In Charlie McAvoy, Boston has a No. 1 defenseman. But he isn’t the perfect power play quarterback, and there aren’t a ton of other options to choose from. Karlsson could take that role and a slot on the second pair with Hampus Lindholm or Nikita Zadorov.”
Trade rumors started to circulate earlier this month, when it was reported by David Pagnotta that Kyle Dubas was looking to sell off pieces and mentioned Erik Karlsson as one of the names that could be sold off.
Karlsson, 35, is coming off a full 82-game season, where he posted 11-42-53 and made an appearance for Team Sweden in the Four Nations Face-Off. Despite strong points for a defender, he posted a plus/minus of -24, but he was averaging over 23 minutes a night on a subpar Pittsburgh Penguins team.
There aren’t any more specific rumblings as to where Karlsson lands, but it’s certainly a name to keep an eye on as the offseason continues to progress.
No, just no!