With the trade deadline fast approaching, fans, media, coaches, players, and managers are all paying attention to what players will get moved, and where. One of this year's most interesting cases is Erik Karlsson.
Since signing his current deal in San Jose, Karlsson had gone from one of the most dynamic offensive defencemen to ever play, to an utter contractual liability. At 32 years old, with four full years left where he's owed $11.5M and serious injury history, it'd have to be a perfect scenario for him to be moved. Considering the fact that his offensive play has declined in recent seasons, and it makes Karlsson the riskiest player to acquire in the league. Yet Craig Button of TSN is suggesting that the Buffalo Sabres may take a swing to get him.
It makes sense, with the cap room and assets the Buffalo Sabres can work with, but from an actual roster construction perspective, it's still perplexing. Any team acquiring Karlsson and his contract, at this time, would be betting that his offensive production from this year can continue, rather than his prior years in San Jose. In just 50 games this season, Karlsson has 15 goals and 64 points, on pace for the best season of his career.
If Buffalo were to acquire him, they'd have one of the leagues best offensive defenceman ever to mentor the young Sabres defenceman in Power and Dahlin, but it wouldn't necessarily make their team better, in the short or long term.
Not only that, but the price to acquire Karlsson has been reported as astronomically high for a defenceman of his age, being multiple first round draft picks and prospects.
