Karlsson goes to Penguins in three-team trade with Sharks, Canadiens

The 33-year-old defenseman had 101 points (25 goals, 76 assists) in 82 games with the Sharks last season, becoming the sixth defenseman in NHL history to reach 100 points in a season, and the first since Brian Leetch had 102 for the Rangers in 1991-92. Karlsson has four seasons remaining on an eight-year contract ($11.5 million average annual value) he signed with the Sharks on June 17, 2019; San Jose will retain $1.5 million of his salary annually.

Karlsson, who won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL last season and was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award as most valuable player voted by the NHL Players’ Association, had a full no-move clause.

“We want to thank Erik for his contributions in San Jose over the last four years and congratulate him on a remarkable and historic 2022-23 season,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. “We wish Erik, his wife Melinda, (children) Harlow and Stellan all the best in the future.”

[RELATED: 2023-2024 NHL Trade Tracker]

Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round (No. 15) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Karlsson has 761 points (178 goals, 583 assists) in 920 regular-season games for the Senators and Sharks and 53 points (eight goals, 45 assists) in 67 Stanley Cup Playoff games. A five-time Norris finalist and three-time winner (2011-12, 2014-15, 2022-23), Karlsson is also a five-time NHL First-Team All Star (2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2022-23).

Karlsson had previously said he wanted to be traded to a Stanley Cup contender. Although Pittsburgh was 40-31-11 last season and missed the playoffs, they had qualified each of the previous 16 seasons, which was the longest streak in the NHL.

San Jose received forwards Mikael Granlund and Mike Hoffman, defenseman Jan Rutta and a conditional first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft in the trade.

Granlund had 42 points (10 goals, 31 assists) in 79 games with the Penguins and Nashville Predators last season, including five points (one goal, four assists) in 21 games after he was acquired by PIttsburgh in a trade on March 1. The 31-year-old has 484 points (145 goals, 339 assists) in 750 regular-season games for the Penguins, Predators and Minnesota Wild. He has two seasons remaining on a four-year contract ($5 million AAV) he signed with the Predators on July 28, 2021.

Hoffman had 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 67 games with Montreal last season. The 33-year-old has 464 points (218 goals, 246 assists) in 679 regular-season games for the Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers and Senators and is a six-time 20-goal scorer. He has one season remaining on a three-year contract ($4.5 million AAV) he signed with the Canadiens on July 28, 2021.

Ruuta, 33, had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 56 games for the Penguins last season and has 70 points (15 goals, 55 assists in 294 regular-season games for the Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks. He has two seasons remaining on three-year contract ($2.75 million AAV) he signed with the Penguins on July 13, 2022.

“While it is always difficult to trade a player of the caliber of Erik Karlsson, this trade accomplishes several goals for our franchise,” Grier said. “It adds two forwards to our roster who have proven ability to produce offensively at the NHL level, and solidifies our NHL defense corps. Additionally, acquiring another first round pick gives us the opportunity to continue fortifying our development system with high-end prospects and provides us some financial flexibility to add players as we see fit in the future.”

San Jose (22-44-16) finished 29th in the NHL standings last season and has not qualified for the postseason since 2019.

Pittsburgh also received forward Rem Pitlick, forward prospect Dillon Hamaliuk and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Pitlick, 26, had 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 46 games with the Canadiens last season and has 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) in 123 regular-season games for the Canadiens and Predators. He is entering the final season of a two-year contract ($1.1 million AAV) he signed with the Canadiens on July 16, 2022.

Hamaliuk, 22, was a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Sharks and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Montreal received defenseman Jeff Petry, goalie Casey DeSmith, forward prospect Nathan Legare and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, all from Pittsburgh.

Petry had 27 points (six goals, 21 assists) in 68 games for the Penguins last season, his first with the team after being acquired in a trade with the Canadiens on July 16, 2022. The 35-year-old, who played with Montreal from 2014-21, has two seasons remaining on a four-year contract ($6.25 million average annual value) he signed with the Canadiens on Sept. 25, 2020. The Penguins will pay 25 percent of the remaining salary.

Petry has 353 points (92 goals, 261 assists) in 864 regular-season games for the Penguins, Canadiens and Oilers.

DeSmith was 15-16-4 with a 3.17 goals-against average and .905 save percentage playing an NHL career-high 38 games (33 starts) for Pittsburgh last season. Signed as a free agent on July 1, 2017, the 31-year-old is 58-44-15 with a 2.81 GAA, .912 save percentage and nine shutouts in 134 regular-season games (115 starts). He has one season remaining on a two-year contract ($1.8 million AAV) he signed with the Penguins on July 5, 2022.

The Canadiens also received 22-year-old forward prospect Nathan Legare, who has yet to make his NHL debut and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Montreal was 31-45-6 last season and missed the playoffs for the second straight season since making the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, where they lost in five games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.