Pittsburgh’s core stays put for now as rusted trade winds swirl around Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson, who are all cited as candidates this offseason. Frank Seravalli’s take: no, not likely to move soon — but the rumor mill won’t quit. At the same time, Mason McTavish remains the Ducks’ highly valued Restricted Free Agent, with teams lining up as potential destinations. Detroit, Carolina, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Philadelphia surface as plausible suitors, each armed with distinct assets and cap considerations. Packages surface involving a 2023 first-rounder (17th overall) and a key young defender like Axel Sandin Pellikka, plus salary ballast. Carolina’s cap space (~$10M) and willingness to assemble a multi-piece offer contrast with Vancouver’s need to shed salary, while Calgary’s age fit and Montreal’s 2C need add layers to the conversation. Philadelphia’s history of deal-making in these circles makes them a recurring wildcard. The rumor rounds around these names point to a league-wide scramble for middle- to high-end centers, with McTavish representing the clearest movable asset for a true rebuild window.

Fantasy managers should monitor not just McTavish’s destinations, but the ripple effects around Pittsburgh’s veteran core. If the Ducks listen on McTavish, the teams that land him could push Penguins’ cap plans into sharper relief, testing the depth of PIT’s forward corps and the long-term impact of Karlsson’s defense-first tempo. The chatter also underscores how cap flexibility and draft capital can tilt negotiations, making the next 2-3 weeks critical for rosters and dynasty values around the NHL.

Erik Karlsson’s off-season chatter continues to swirl around Pittsburgh and Detroit, with teams weighing his high-end power-play value against salary and five-on-five impact. Detroit is a frequent name in the rumor mill, but the fit isn’t clean: cap expectations, goal tempo at five-on-five, and the potential cost in youth and prospects complicate any move. Other threads touch Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk as veteran targets, and Burns surfaces as a Sharks-era cautionary benchmark. For fantasy, Karlsson’s PP workload and Detroit’s decision window matter most, Kadri’s floor with PP upside, and van Riemsdyk’s veteran presence could shift usage in new land. A late trades-and-deadline angle could move both rosters more than a quiet summer would.

Discussions around Carter Hart's potential return to the NHL are ongoing, but doubts remain about whether he will play this season. Concerns about past incidents continue to linger, even though he has been cleared of allegations. Experts like Dennis Bernstein believe that while Hart has the right to resume his career, the NHL's hesitance is understandable given the circumstances.

Meanwhile, trade prospects loom for Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who is viewed as a viable candidate for a deadline deal if his performance improves. His contract, particularly if salary retention is implemented, could make him an attractive option for teams seeking experienced talent, despite his declining point totals in recent years.

The trade rumors surrounding Erik Karlsson, currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins, have intensified as the team looks to transition to a younger roster. Karlsson, 35, is under contract for two more years at a $10 million cap hit, leading to speculation about potential trade destinations, particularly with the Carolina Hurricanes given their significant cap space of over $10 million.

However, the Hurricanes face a critical decision: is Karlsson, even at a reduced salary of $7.5 million, a better option than Shayne Gostisbehere, who can manage the power play for significantly less? The discussion highlights concerns about Karlsson's age and possible decline, yet his desire to play for a contender makes Carolina a natural fit. However, finding other teams interested in a big-ticket defenseman like Karlsson remains challenging, particularly with the Penguins indicating their openness to trade.