Former Penguins express differing opinions on idea of team acquiring Erik Karlsson

Two former Penguins with Stanley Cup rings. Two different radio stations. Two different opinions on whether the Penguins should pay a high price for Erik Karlsson.

The Penguins are believed to be in the trade market to acquire the Norris Trophy winner. Most reports are that the Pens and the Carolina Hurricanes are the top two candidates to swing a deal with the San Jose Sharks to acquire the high-scoring defenseman.

It’s believed that the Sharks may be asking for two first-round picks as part of a package in return from either suitor. Appearing with TribLIVE’s Mark Madden on 105.9 The X Thursday, two-time Cup winner turned Pens color analyst Phil Bourque said that asking price would give him pause, but he’d eventually pull the trigger on such a deal.

“I think a first-rounder should be an automatic,” Bourque said. “Two first-rounders? I think that’s squeezing your (backside) a little bit tight on that one. But if that’s what’s gonna take to make the deal happen, I say go for it. You’d be all in, and that would be exciting.”

Meanwhile, 2009 Stanley Cup champion Tyler Kennedy isn’t quite as sold on the idea. While Karlsson did rack up 101 points from the blue line last year — the first defenseman to reach 100 points in a season since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 — Karlsson’s lack of commitment to defense bothers Kennedy.

“I like him, but I don’t love him,” Kennedy said Wednesday on 93.7 The Fan. “I think he’s going to create a ton of offense for you. But when you look at his plus-minus (minus-26), it’s scary. I know he won the Norris this year … . But if you watch him play, he doesn’t play defense. He’s pretty much a winger playing back there. So, do I think he’ll help the Penguins? I think yes, offensively. But do I think they need a guy like that? I don’t. I think they have Kris Letang. I think they need more of a shutdown defenseman. They lost (Brian Dumoulin). So I think they definitely need more of a shutdown guy than a guy who’s going to get points.”

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Personally, I think Ryan Graves, signed last week from the New Jersey Devils, can be a Dumoulin replacement. And I think Karlsson coming on board could aid the Penguins in a few specific areas beyond his personal point production.

1. His presence will allow Letang to play fewer minutes. That’ll minimize the strain on Letang physically and minimize the number of opportunities for the Penguins to be put in a bad spot because Letang takes too many risks in high-leverage situations. Granted, Karlsson does that a lot as well. But if he is producing more points, then maybe Letang will feel less of a need to create so much offense himself.

2. Karlsson is perfect for Mike Sullivan’s speed-oriented, attack mentality. Now Sidney Crosby’s line and Evgeni Malkin’s line are more likely to have either Letang or Karlsson on the ice with them most of the time.

3. He’ll help the power play. While Sullivan doesn’t seem to think the power play needs a boost, it does. The numbers prove it. Karlsson’s addition as a quarterback would either allow Kris Letang to move to the left half-wall or run the second unit.

“He’s not afraid to shoot. He shoots with a purpose. He hits the net… That’s a really interesting dynamic,” Bourque said of Karlsson’s potential on the man-up unit.

However, Kennedy suggests there may be some intangibles missing from Karlsson’s game. When asked if he thought the 33-year-old Swede was a winner, Kennedy expressed doubt.

“I don’t think he’s a winner. I don’t think he’s ever been on a winner,” Kennedy said. “I found it funny that when Karlsson went to San Jose, (defenseman Brent) Burns was there, they didn’t mesh. Either one was playing well, or the other one wasn’t playing well. And that’s why they ended up moving Burnsy… Seeing what happened in San Jose, that’s the last thing I’d want to see happen with him and Kris Letang.”

Karlsson was part of an Eastern Conference Final team in Ottawa that lost to the Penguins in the 2017 playoffs. His Sharks also lost to the St. Louis Blues in 2019 in the Western Conference Final. Karlsson’s teams have missed the postseason eight times. He has made the postseason six times, never registering more than two goals in any postseason.

I get where Kennedy is coming from in his criticism. I’ve always been critical of Karlsson’s one-way approach to playing hockey as well.

Calling him a “defenseman” is essentially a misnomer.

But I side with Bourque on the big picture. If the Penguins are refusing to commit to a rebuild and are refusing to dial back their approach to play in Sullivan’s system, they might as well get a guy who can play it well and help them win more often while Letang, Crosby and Malkin are still here.

If a deal with San Jose allows the Penguins to get Karlsson as the Sharks pick up some of his salary, I say do it. Especially if a third team is involved to get the contracts of Mikael Granlund and/or Jeff Petry off the books.

And if Karlsson isn’t out there, who takes up those minutes on the right side? Petry? Jan Rutta? Chad Ruhwedel? No one in that group makes me think they’ll make the Penguins all that much better than they were last year.

Karlsson’s offensive ability might. It’d be worth the shot. Knowing the Penguins, they’ll just trade those first-round picks for somebody less dynamic down the road anyway.