Penguins' Karlsson Could Be On Move Soon To Team In The East

One of the players who has had the most noise surrounding him for the past year is Erik Karlsson. The Pittsburgh Penguins are very clearly entering into a rebuild and talk of even Sidney Crosby moving on is coming up more and more. More big moves haven't been made because the price has to be good enough, but there just may be a team desperate enough after a poor offseason to execute a trade for Karlsson soon.

Josh Yohe said that, "I wouldn't be shocked if you hear his name pop up sooner rather than later. Detroit is the team I've heard the most."

The Detroit Red Wings are trying to head in the other direction than the Penguins, not selling off players and hoping to finally make the jump back into the playoffs. They've had no luck the past two seasons, though they were close. Karlsson could be the offensive, puck-moving defenseman that the team needs and his contract is the perfect length. Just two years are left on the veteran's contract at $10 million AAV, but the Red Wing also have $12 million in cap space and could send Justin Holl's contract back to open up more space if they really wanted to. He's not going to play very much, if at all, this season.

Karlsson has been a great target for Detroit all offseason, but maybe the difference in wanted price has been off between the two clubs. Moritz Seider isn't a fully offensive defenseman, but he can eat minutes. He would be better as the top RD who plays on the second power-play unit as well as the penalty kill. Karlsson, who is still elite offensively, would slide into the 2RD hole and quarterback the power play. I think that would make a huge difference all around and it would be the big move the Red Wings need and have been waiting for. James van Riemsdyk can't be the big summer move and the team have expectations to get better.

The Red Wings have to do something, and if they aren't going to add up front (which they should), then the right defense would be just as effective. The goaltenders also need more help and more scoring from the back-end wouldn't hurt.