Insider suggests that the Leafs could inquire about Erik Karlsson at full pop
The Leafs already have 3 players making more than $10M per season in John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, but Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli suggested that trading for Sharks' blueliner Erik Karlsson and his $11.5M per season salary due to the amount of injuries the Leafs currently have on their back end could potentially be financially possible.
Morgan Rielly is out 4-6 weeks, T.J. Brodie is going to be out for at least another week and Jake Muzzin likely won't be back this season, if at all. While the Leafs added right-handed defenseman Conor Timmins from Arizona yesterday, his addition is a question mark due to his injury history - something Kyle Dubas addressed after making the trade, stating that Timmins is finally at 100% full health.
Seravalli suggests that finding a way to fit Karlsson's entire deal, with 4 years remaining on it, under the cap might actually help the Leafs long-term. It does sound crazy, but it almost makes sense as the cost to acquire Karlsson with the Sharks retaining salary would increase the asking price and likely force the Leafs to send multiple early round picks as well as a top prospect like Matthew Knies to the Sharks. Not having the Sharks retain any salary on the remaining length of Karlsson's deal would essentially push players like Alex Kerfoot and Pierre Engvall out of the lineup, trimming cap space to be able to fit Karlsson in, forcing the Leafs to play players like Alex Steeves, Pontus Holmberg, Joey Anderson and other prospects that are on cheap, entry-level contracts throughout their lineup, easing the cap constraints.
Let's be honest, many fans wouldn't hate to see Kerfoot and/or Pierre Engvall sent packing given their play this season and, in doing so, it would clear up almost $6M in cap space. Match that with Muzzin's $5.625M, which likely ends up on LTIR next season and the Leafs could conceivably make it all fit.
Colby Cohen, Seravalli's co-host on "Daily Faceoff Live", nixed the idea right away saying it is just too much money for a player that has that many holes in his defensive game. Cohen also questioned if Karlsson's style of play would help the Leafs get over the hump in the playoffs, which he was not very sure of.
Personally, it's not a deal I would make, particularly at this point in Karlsson's career. The amount of money still owed on his contract is staggering and the last thing we need on the roster is another high-priced offensive player.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 24 | 288 ANSWERS Insider suggests that the Leafs could inquire about Erik Karlsson at full pop Should the Leafs pursue Erik Karlsson at his full $11.5M cap hit to keep the cost of acquiring him lower? | ||
| Yes | 48 | 16.7 % |
| No | 157 | 54.5 % |
| The Leafs don't need him, even at 50% retained | 83 | 28.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
