Pittsburgh Penguins star defenseman Erik Karlsson told the media today, including NHL.com’s Wes Crosby, that he has not yet had any discussions with the team about a new contract. The 36-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after the eight-year, $11.5MM AAV deal he signed in the summer of 2019 expires.
Karlsson said the Penguins are “in a weird stage,” presumably referring to where they stand in the wider contention cycle, and said they will “see how it goes this year.”
The three-time Norris Trophy winner’s future in Pittsburgh could very well depend on what he alluded to, which is the team’s near-term competitive fortunes. While Karlsson’s presence has undoubtedly been a boon for some of Pittsburgh’s younger talent, it’s unlikely he’d want to spend the twilight of his legendary career with a team that doesn’t stand a real chance of competing for a Stanley Cup.
The Penguins surprised the league by making the playoffs last season, but few see them as true championship contenders, even with Sidney Crosby in the lineup. Karlsson showed he can still play at a very high level last season, scoring 15 goals and 66 points while averaging 23:36 time on ice per game and quarterbacking the team’s No. 1 power play.
If the Penguins experience a downturn in their competitive fortunes this season, expect Karlsson’s name to pop up more frequently in trade rumors as he inches closer to UFA status.
Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:
Veteran Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson began training camp in a yellow no-contact sweater as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery he had in April. Per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Severson will be held out of the team’s slate of preseason games but is expected to be ready in time for the start of the regular season.
Severson, 32, has five years remaining on a $6.25MM AAV contract that ties him to Columbus until the summer of 2031. He’s expected to take on a top-four role for the team this season after scoring 32 points in 71 games and averaging 21:04 time on ice per game in 2025-26.
The New Jersey Devils made a series of minor transactions following the conclusion of rookie camp and the start of training camp. They released forwards Nathan Brown, Caelan Joudrey and Nathan Lecompte from their amateur tryout agreements, while prospects Quinn McKenzie and Luke Wilfley have been reassigned to their respective junior clubs.
McKenzie, a 2026 seventh-round pick, heads to the OHL while Wilfley, a 2026 sixth-rounder, heads to the WHL.
Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin suffered a torn ACL late in the 2025-26 season and was slated to miss time on a six to nine month recovery timeline. Capitals GM Chris Patrick said today, via Sammi Silber of The Hockey News, that the team still expects Sandin to be recovering on that original timeline.
Patrick said the team is “hopeful based on how he looks that maybe we’re closer to the earlier part of that” recovery window, referring to the original six-to-nine-month timeline. Sandin, 26, was Washington’s No. 5 defenseman in terms of ice time last season, averaging 19:12 per game including 1:25 per game on the penalty kill.
The 2018 Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick scored five goals and 29 points in 73 games.