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Coming off yet another disappointing Eastern Conference Final loss in 2024-25, things need to change for the Carolina Hurricanes. General manager Eric Tulsky and head coach Rod Brind'Amour know this. There are areas on the team that need to be improved upon, most notably on the roster's blue line.
Although the Canes have already replaced Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov by trading for K'Andre Miller from the New York Rangers, as Frank Seravalli reports, the team has looked into acquiring Pittsburgh Penguins star defenseman Erik Karlsson as well.
Seravalli discussed the high price it would take to snag the Penguins veteran, per B/R Open Ice on X (formerly Twitter).
The asking prices for Rust, Rakell, and Karlsson all remain high as the Penguins look to retool (w/ @frank_seravalli) pic.twitter.com/rGRtXg7cnW
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 15, 2025
“The asking prices for Rust, Rakell, and Karlsson all remain high as the Penguins look to retool,” Seravalli said earlier this week. He also confirmed that the Hurricanes have already done their due diligence and taken a ‘flier' on potentially acquiring Karlsson.
“If they could get him down into that 7- 7.5 range for two more seasons, I think there's a team that would certainly be willing to take a flier on an Erik Karlsson, and I think Carolina is one of those teams that spent some time investigating.”
Karlsson would be a strong addition to the Carolina defense. Although the price tag would be high, the Hurricanes could afford it. As the team looks to get over a Florida Panthers-sized hump, talented players that have proven themselves over and over again like Karlsson would be ideal pickups. Can they swing a deal with the Penguins that would help both sides?
Erik Karlsson could be a great fit for Hurricanes
Although Karlsson is aging, he'd be worth the risk due to the upside he'd bring to Carolina. Losing Burns and Orlov in free agency does sting but replacing him with a younger veteran that has been one of the league's best defensemen wouldn't be a bad idea. Furthermore, Tulsky's biggest offseason move so far was signing Nikolaj Ehlers in free agency. Now, the squad could make another huge move to strengthen themselves for another run at the Stanley Cup.
There's no question that the Hurricanes are still considered one of the Eastern Conference's best teams. Brind'Amour and his staff have helped the team's current core grow and improve. Now is the time to add onto it. By swinging a trade for Karlsson, then Carolina's window to contend for another Stanley Cup would certainly open wider.
