Edited Aug. 4, 2023 at 11:50 a.m.
Quoting: riles23
I would love to know why Sharks fans think this contract is good for them? Yes, they have a lot of cap space, but that is because they are rebuilding. How is EK good for a rebuilding team? His value will likely never be higher. Even if the cap goes up next year, EK will be older and likely worse than he was this year, and still with 3 years left at 11.5.
Maybe trading Karlsson with $14M retained for a 1st round pick (maybe like 25th overall) plus a bunch of garbage contracts and some B level prospects isn't worth it to the Sharks?
I would say the cap constraint is more of a detriment to the return package than the risk of just letting him play another half to full season. I think you're being too risk averse in your hypothetical asset management here.
Also, I never said the contract is good. Just that many fans like watching him play and management wants veterans around to tutor the young guys. So no need to rush through negotiations to acquire a late 1st, and an expensive one at that.
If you wait until the trade deadline a team may be more willing to trade better assets to acquire him.
Right now the Penguins seem to be the only ones in for him right now. Their fans refuse to trade either of their top two prospects even though they have a bottom 10 pool in the league. I don't know if this reflects how Dubas thinks, but maybe find a team with a deeper pool to trade with if true.