New York Rangers: Pros and cons of trading for Erik Karlsson
The New York Rangers may have the opportunity to grab Erik Karlsson this summer. While he is one of the best players in the league, there would be pros and cons of trading for him.
The rumors are there. Erik Karlsson to the New York Rangers. Why not? Karlsson is a generational talent and has been one of the best players, not just defensemen in the league since he entered in 2009-2010. The Swedish defenseman is signed for one more year with the Ottawa Senators, but there have been plenty of rumblings that he will be moved this summer so that the Senators don’t lose him for nothing.
In 627 games in the NHL, Karlsson has produced 518 points. He is worth getting as soon as you have a chance. The Rangers have the picks and prospects to get Karlsson in a trade. They also have the cap space to resign him to a deal if they traded for him. The question is, does the deal get done? Again, in theory, it’s simple. You grab the best defenseman in the league if given the opportunity. However, with the Rangers in the midst of a rebuild, will the big move help them or hurt them if it’s made?
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Pros
Where to begin. What hasn’t already been said about Karlsson? He is elite. He is the best skating and puck moving defenseman since Nick Lidstrom. No team in the league wouldn’t want him on their squad. I mentioned the point totals earlier, but his impact extends far beyond that. He averages just under 26 minutes on ice per game. In the playoffs that number sky rockets to close to 27 and a half minutes. Last season he almost single-handedly willed the Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals. He was on the ice for nearly 50 percent of their goals.
He is also still young. Despite being in the league for nine seasons, Karlsson will be just 28 when the next season starts. He is the perfect piece to transform a team from borderline playoff contender to one of the real powerhouses in the league. He even excels in the areas that you can’t quantify. Karlsson is one of the better guys in the entire league. He is respected by players, coaches and fans alike.
There are tons of positives to grabbing a player like Karlsson. Even though the Rangers have a lot of young talent on defense, there is always a place in the lineup for a player of Karlsson’s caliber. Quite simply, there is no one better on the blue line right now in the entire league.
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Cons
It seems like this shouldn’t even be a section because of how good Karlsson is. However, there are some reasons why the team shouldn’t take him, especially this offseason. The first and most obvious reason is that they would have to give up a lot. The asking price for Karlsson will be high and rightfully so. The Rangers have stock piled a good amount of draft picks and prospects, but they would probably have to ship at least a few off if the team were to get Karlsson.
That brings us to the second negative, what happens when the team would get Karlsson. If they give up prospects and picks, they will need to sign Karlsson long term. That means something along the lines of 8-10 million a year. It would certainly be a contract that Karlsson deserves, but maybe not one the Rangers should make. They team has a lot of younger talent that they will eventually need to sign. If they lock up Karlsson that money will be depleted and that will limit the Rangers in other aspects.
The pros are obvious, because Karlsson is the best. However, the negatives stem from a rebuild that has barely begun. If New York wants to fully see it through they won’t get Karlsson. However, if they think they can expedite the process, you might see the best defenseman in the league in Rangers blue soon.