Erik Karlsson's future with the Pittsburgh Penguins is in flux, with the Toronto Maple Leafs emerging as a potential landing spot. TSN analyst Travis Yost suggested the Maple Leafs could trade for Karlsson, filling in for the offensive gap left by Morgan Rielly. While Rielly's trade seems unlikely now, Toronto's recent defensive restructuring has hampered their offensive production, making Karlsson's capabilities appealing.

However, Karlsson's hefty $11.5 million cap hit poses a challenge, given that Toronto only has $5.3 million in cap space. If the Leafs were to trade Rielly, whose salary is $7.5 million, it could facilitate a deal. Pittsburgh is not pressured to move Karlsson, but reports indicate that he is open to being traded, which could benefit both sides.