The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins are at opposite ends of the NHL. Carolina made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025, going all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, the Penguins finished near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, ending up in the NHL Draft Lottery.
Both of these teams are looking at one another as the season draws near. They are division rivals, after all. If one of these teams slips, the other could very likely directly benefit. Moreover, the two teams could size each other up for a potential trade.
This is not uncommon. In fact, they recently made a blockbuster trade. The Penguins traded Jake Guentzel to the Hurricanes during the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. Guentzel went on to spend half a season and one postseason with Carolina before joining the Tampa Bay Lightning last summer.
Pittsburgh has other veteran forwards they are looking to trade this summer. Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are two of the more in-demand trade candidates on the market. Either one of them could give Carolina a boost in 2025-26.
One NHL insider is going in a different direction, though. Frank Seravalli was asked about the best potential landing spots for defenseman Erik Karlsson. And he named Carolina as the best fit.
“Outside of Carolina, I think it becomes really difficult to squint and see fits for Erik Karlsson moving forward,” Seravalli said for Bleacher Report.
Winning Matters to Penguins’ Erik Karlsson
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesPittsburgh Penguins star Erik Karlsson has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the summer.
Servalli mentioned an extremely important fact that matters for this discussion. For all the talk surrounding a Karlsson trade, ultimately, he is the one who holds all the leverage. The three-time Norris Trophy winner has a full no-movement clause. He will choose where he lands.
As a result, what the 35-year-old rearguard values in a new time is vitally important. What he wants is quite simple. The future Hall of Famer wants a chance to win the Stanley Cup before his career ends.
“Erik Karlsson has signaled that he would like to play for a contending team. Carolina fits the mold, but would some of the others? That’s the other part of the equation. (Karlsson) has made it very clear, as the guy holding the cards, that he wants to have a chance to win,” Seravalli said.
Karlsson has gone on a deep postseason run twice in his career. His first was a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 with the Ottawa Senators. The second came in 2019, when he went to the West Final with the San Jose Sharks. Both of these were losing efforts, though.
Hurricanes Have Assets, Cap Space For Karlsson Trade
The discussion around fit is one thing. However, a team can be a good fit for a player while not having the needed components to pull off a trade. The Hurricanes, though, have everything they need.
Carolina has the future assets to make this deal. They have the prospects for it, even after trading top prospect Scott Morrow in the K’Andre Miller trade. Moreover, they have $10.6 million in salary cap space. They can take Karlsson at a reduced rate and still have some money to spend.
Carolina and Pittsburgh have pulled off one blockbuster trade. Their proximity as division rivals gives them added familiarity, as well. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Hurricanes land Karlsson if he’s dealt this summer.
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