The Edmonton Oilers are in desperate need of a defenseman who’s great at moving the puck, taking it through zones, and not just dumping it in the corner––someone who doesn’t just flip it off the boards.
And there’s no one better at it than Erik Karlsson.
The Swede was one of the best defensemen in the world while playing with the Ottawa Senators. Since his move to the San Jose Sharks, Karlsson has had trouble with injuries, and his big paycheck led to him being mocked and laughed at. But this season has been the Erik Karlsson revenge tour.
Karlsson has recorded 73 points in 55 games and is currently on pace for 109 points. Erik Karlsson hasn’t shut down the possibility of a trade this season and has claimed he wants to win.
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With what the Oilers are looking for in mind, it’s easy to connect the dots. Karlsson and the Oilers would be a perfect match.
Erik Karlsson is one of the best-paid players in the league, and the Sharks are asking for a lot in return for giving Karlsson away.
But the hefty price tag hasn’t scared the Oilers. Now, the parties are intensifying their talks, and it seems like some progress has been made.
Jason Gregor, a TSN radio host and analyst, revealed on Wednesday that the Oilers have officially submitted an offer to acquire Karlsson. Gregor stated that GMs ”make offers on trades quite often, but many aren’t accepted.” So it’s tough to tell how close a deal really is, but it certainly seems like things are moving forward.
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