Kyle Dubas Calls Out The Play Of Veteran Erik Karlsson In Recent Interview

The Pittsburgh Penguins failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs again in 2024/25, and with the team potentially looking to pivot towards the future, they've got some huge decisions to make in the coming months.

That means there could be some veterans on the way out this summer, with many pointing to defenseman Erik Karlsson as a potential trade candidate, as the salary cap rise has made his contract much more palatable for teams that could look to acquire him.

Now, General Manager Kyle Dubas has addressed the situation, revealing that he had a meeting with Karlsson, but in that meeting he had to tamper Karlsson's ambitions after his play this past season.

Simply put, Karlsson hasn't played well enough to be as ambitious as he is as a piece of the Pittsburgh Penguins future, and with the team looking to re-tool around Sidney Crosby, that may make players like Karlsson and Rickard Rakell expendable.

Ultimately, it's more likely than not that the team will push to move the 34-year old veteran this summer to get an asset in return, and while Karlsson believes he can effect this team moving forward, they need to look to the future around Crosby, and moving him may be the best play for both parties in that situation.