NHL RumorsNHL RumorsNHL Rumors
  • Rumors
  • Free Agency
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent Signings Tracker
    • Our Top 50 2025 NHL Free Agents
    • A Collection of Top 12 to 50 UFA Lists
    • List of Pending UFA Forwards
    • List of Pending UFA Defensemen
    • List of Pending UFA Goaltenders
  • NHL Trades
    • 2025-26 NHL Trade Tracker
    • Trade Articles
    • 2024-25 NHL Trade Tracker
    • 2023-24 NHL Trade Tracker
  • Video
  • Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Contact
  • FAQ
Font ResizerAa
NHL RumorsNHL Rumors
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Rumors
  • Free Agency
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent Signings Tracker
    • Our Top 50 2025 NHL Free Agents
    • A Collection of Top 12 to 50 UFA Lists
    • List of Pending UFA Forwards
    • List of Pending UFA Defensemen
    • List of Pending UFA Goaltenders
  • NHL Trades
    • 2025-26 NHL Trade Tracker
    • Trade Articles
    • 2024-25 NHL Trade Tracker
    • 2023-24 NHL Trade Tracker
  • Video
  • Teams
    • Atlantic Division
    • Metropolitan Division
    • Central Division
    • Pacific Division
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Contact
  • FAQ
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
NHL OpinionNHL Rumors

NHL Rumors: Does Erik Karlsson Make Sense for the Detroit Red Wings?

Jim Biringer 08/09/2025
4 Min Read
Erik Karlsson's name is in the rumor mill and has been linked to the Detroit Red Wings. Does it make sense for the Red Wings?
Nov 13, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) skates with the puck against Detroit Red Wings right wing Jonatan Berggren (48) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
SHARE

It is genuinely the lull of the NHL Offseason. There are no arbitration hearings, as all the players have new contracts. There are only a handful of RFAs, including Mason McTavish, Marco Rossi, and Luke Hughes, looking for new deals. However, there is some speculation about the fate of Erik Karlsson with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Dating back to last season, there has been talk about the Penguins potentially moving on from Karlsson. He has never really fit into the Penguins’ system. Though his numbers are not terrible, Karlsson is not the 100-point player he was with the San Jose Sharks. But the speculation grows, and one of the teams linked to Erik Karlsson has been the Detroit Red Wings.

As Jim Biringer of NHLRumors.com and Full Press Hockey discussed with Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now on a recent episode of the Full Press NHL Podcast, is there a fit for Erik Karlsson on the Detroit Red Wings?

NHLRumors.com Transcriptions

NHL Rumors: Carter Hart and Erik Karlsson

Jim Biringer: “I saw a couple of articles drop that you had, where they were talking about Erik Karlsson, Nazem Kadri’s names have come out, and mentioned the Wings. But do you really see fits with those two players on that team? I mean, it doesn’t feel like Kadri is going anywhere. But seems like Karlsson and Detroit seems to always come up.”

Bob Duff: “I just don’t see the fit with Karlsson, partially because of the salary, but mostly because, at this stage of his career where he’s going to help a team mostly is going to be on the power play. And the Red Wings had a tremendous power play last year. So why would you want to mess with that? I think their problem is five-on-five goals, and I still don’t know where they’re going to get five-on-five goals this year, because they really didn’t bring in anything other than (James) van Reimsdyk.

But again, he’s a guy that has pretty much made hay on the power play, like he’s not going to score. I don’t think a lot of five-on-five goals. So I just don’t see, and from Karlsson’s viewpoint, why would he want to come here? Like, if you’re at this stage of your career, don’t you want to try to win the Stanley Cup, and you don’t want to go to a team that, even if they made the playoffs, they’re still probably quite a few years away from where you could say they were a cup contender.”

As Duff mentions, the Red Wings don’t want to move their top prospects, which is something a team like the Penguins would like in exchange for Karlsson. Not to mention, why mess with a good thing? Similar to the Penguins power play, where the units were clicking on all cylinders, Pittsburgh took a step back on the man advantage when Karlsson was added to the fold. There is only so much puck to go around. Just look what happened in San Jose when Brent Burns and Karlsson were there together.

NHL Rumors: The Erik Karlsson Trade Speculation Continues

The fit isn’t there because, realistically, are the Detroit Red Wings a playoff team this season? If they are, maybe they revisit it at the trade deadline, but if they aren’t, why would Karlsson want to go to Detroit?

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Detroit Red WingsErik Karlsson

Offer Sheet Compensation

<$1.54M no comp
$1.54M – $2.34M: 3rd
$2.34M – $4.68M: 2nd
$4.68M – $7.02M: 1st, 3rd
$7.02M – $9.36M: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
$9.36M – $11.7M: 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
$11.7M+: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st,

2025-26 Critical Dates

Oct. 7th: 2025-26 season begins

NHL Rumors to your inbox.

NHLrumors Logo

Categories

  • Rumors

Information

  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking NHL News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.