Sharks Erik Karlsson Comments on Latest Trade Rumors

The San Jose Sharks are talking trades on several of their players, including their best defenseman Erik Karlsson. The team is in the beginning stages of a full rebuild and general manager Mike Grier is looking to cash in on some of his veterans ahead of the March 3 trade deadline.

Karlsson was a recent guest on the Got Yer Back podcast and was asked about his future and had this to say:

I will never sway from that: I want to win. I think as you get older and you've been around for a longer time, you realize it's not as easy as it looks and you gotta hit it at the right time. Obviously if it does happen, then I hope that I do. We'll see where we're at, but I like the way it's going, I know that much. I know that the hires that they've made and the people that they've put in charge are doing a great job in moving in the right direction. ... I know that the future here is going to be really bright. I just hope that it's within my timeline. If it's not, that’s a different discussion and that's where we haven't really gotten yet, I don't think. It's also a tricky part because you never know; it could work out really fast or it could be a little bit of a longer thing. Sometimes that's a gamble you have to take.

Karlsson is having a career season and has turned back the clock in a major way. He's recorded 62 points in 46 games and is on pace for over 100 points, something the NHL hasn't seen out of a defenseman in many years.

The biggest hurdle here could be Karlsson's contract. He's due $11.5 million through the 2026-27 season and he owns a no-movement clause. The Sharks are apparently only willing to retain 18% of his deal, however that's likely going to need to change to get a team to agree to a deal. Expect to see Grier work out a few different trades and present the teams to Karlsson in the coming weeks to see if the offensive defenseman will approve a move.

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