Talk about a mid-summer stunner!
On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson in an early August blockbuster. The Montreal Canadiens pitched in as well as the third team to help facilitate the trade.
The Penguins had been pursuing Karlsson for some time, with the Carolina Hurricanes the rumored other team in the hunt for the high-octane offensive defenseman. Karlsson is the reigning Norris Trophy winner after putting up a career-best 101 points in a full 82-game season last year.
It’s been awhile since we’ve had a major NHL trade of some kind, so let’s break down the particulars and hand out grades between the Penguins, Sharks and Canadiens!