From Elias Pettersson to Erik Karlsson to Chris Kreider to John Gibson, there is no shortage of big-named NHL stars to closely monitor in the offseason trade rumor mill.
If they don’t re-sign with their respective teams, the 2025 NHL free agent market shall be star-studded as well, headlined by forwards Mitch Marner, John Tavares, Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, Nikolaj Ehlers, Aaron Ekblad and Brock Nelson.
Coming off yet another embarrassing postseason elimination (this time, a 6-1 loss in Game 7 to the Florida Panthers), the Toronto Maple Leafs figure to be one of hockey’s busiest teams when the new league year begins.
It’d be a surprise if the Leafs kept both Marner and Tavares after their latest postseason shortcoming, but that could open the door for GM Brad Treliving to make a big splash for a superstar-level defenseman like Erik Karlsson or Aaron Ekblad.
A user at PuckPedia proposed a massive trade idea that would see the Maple Leafs acquiring Erik Karlsson (with $5 million retained) and a 2025 third-round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward David Kampf, prospects Topi Niemela (a forward), Artur Akhtyamov (goalie) and a 2028 first-round pick.
"I think I've voted for him every single year I've been in this league."
— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) April 16, 2025
I asked #LetsGoPens defenseman Erik Karlsson on Sidney Crosby being voted in the #NHLPAPlayerPoll as the league's most complete player for the sixth consecutive season: pic.twitter.com/OTibfIV4KY
PuckPedia currently projects that the Maple Leafs will have $26.859 million in cap space for 2025-26. Karlsson has two years remaining on his deal with an annual $11.5 million cap hit, but the rebuilding Penguins could be willing to eat a significant portion of that to facilitate a trade.
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A Trade Is The Best Outcome For Erik Karlsson & Penguins
Though Karlsson has posted consecutive 50-point seasons in Pittsburgh, the Pens missed the postseason for a third straight year and parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan. So it makes sense for GM Kyle Dubas to trade Karlsson now and get something in return while his value is high.
And with Karlsson also entering his age-35 season, the three-time Norris Trophy winner should be open to a trade and the chance to compete for a championship at this phase of his career.
Also Read: The Biggest Goalie One-Year Wonders In NHL History
