Some things in life can be so annoying that you want to tear the hairs off your head. It can be the neighbor with a severe case of ADHD who can't stop making noise. It can be the slow driver who has a literal "first and 10" situation between them and the next car.
Then, there are the Erik Karlsson rumors with the Vegas Golden Knights. It seems like these are the resident cockroaches of the NHL rumor and speculation mill. Yet, here we are.
Bleacher Report had some way-too-early predictions for the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, which included Rasmus Andersson going to the Carolina Hurricanes and Karlsson heading to Sin City. Essentially, the Golden Knights would miss out on their Alex Pietrangelo replacement and get Shea Theodore's production on steroids, instead.
Goodbye, Pittsburgh Penguins. Hello, Vegas Golden Knights.
Don't get me wrong, though. Karlsson is a great defenseman! After all, he won three Norris Trophies by being one of the best puck-moving blue liners in the league. A right-handed shot on the top pairing is also needed.
However! Those rumors need to be quashed. It goes beyond being a 35-year-old defenseman whose best days are behind him. Get ready, my friend. It's time to go over why getting Karlsson is a bad idea (again).
Why Erik Karlsson going to the Vegas Golden Knights is a bad idea (again)
If you're looking to replace Alex Pietrangelo on the top pairing, it makes sense to replace his defensive contributions as well. That's especially true when you lose the two-time Stanley Cup champion and Nicolas Hague during the offseason. More defense helps everything the Golden Knights do, including protecting Adin Hill from high-danger chances.
So why does replacing Pietrangelo with an offensive-minded blue liner on the downturn of his career make sense? Why does it make sense to add an aging player to a roster that needs players in their primes?
While Karlsson has two years left on his deal, he also carries a $10 million cap hit. There's no room for the Golden Knights to even fathom a trade. You already have Mitch Marner's new deal and need to pay Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev.
There's no room for a potential deal without trading a key player. Kelly McCrimmon has reiterated that he's comfortable with his current roster, indicating a big piece like Ivan Barbashev and William Karlsson won't be moved.
Again, there are better options than Karlsson for the Golden Knights
Of course, the Rasmus Andersson discourse will fester throughout the season like an elevator fart. Unless a move is made in the next couple of months, expect that talk to linger.
Honestly, Andersson would be a better replacement for the two-time Stanley Cup champion. He blocks shots and puts his body on the line every night. The Swedish defenseman is also effective on the penalty kill, putting his stick out whenever possible.
Who knows? Maybe the in-house options will eventually work down the road and there's no need for Andersson. They might not fill the void Pietrangelo left behind right away, after all.
Still, the focus will (and should) be on Andersson as a trade target throughout the season. When you're in win-now mode, that means not getting silly and making the logical move. Look for the player who fills the void that your previous star left behind. That's why Karlsson isn't a good fit in Vegas and won't be for years.