Sometimes, you need a big move to get you over the hump. That deal could help you compete with a bitter rival, pushing you over the top. It could also fetch you a second Stanley Cup, establishing yourself as the resident "Evil Empire."
Kelly McCrimmon understands this, which is why he got Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade on Monday. The dire need to acquire one of the best puck-moving wingers in the league was as tempting as eating chocolate cake. You know you can't help yourself when staring at such a beautiful piece.
You know you want some!
While some trade targets make perfect sense (i.e., Rasmus Andersson), others don't necessarily make the cut. That includes Erik Karlsson, who was proposed from our brother site. You see, the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman does have a sterling career in hockey. He scored 200 goals and 670 assists in 16 seasons, making him one of the best puck-moving defensemen around.
Sounds good, right?
While that sounds great, there are some underlying problems with acquiring the 35-year-old. That includes the aforementioned age and overall contributions to the blue line. Get ready to practice your bow because we're visiting King Karl and telling him why he's not the best fit.
Why Erik Karlsson doesn't make sense for the Vegas Golden Knights
Let's look at Alex Pietrangelo for a second. He's stepping away from the Golden Knights for his health, leaving a massive void on the blue line. Throughout his career, he blocked 2,095 shots in 17 years.
As for Erik Karlsson? 1,427. Pietrangelo also took care of the puck better, only committing 654 giveaways. Karlsson has 1,281 giveaways in his career, including 140 last season.
You're already looking at a downgrade, specifically on defense and taking care of the puck. Sure, he notched 100 points as a defenseman, which is something the two-time Stanley Cup champion never did. However, the Golden Knights need defensive-minded blue liners more than ever.
Obviously, there's the age factor that's also the problem. You can't replace a 35-year-old with another 35-year-old and expect better results. That's why McCrimmon tried trading for Andersson. He's younger (28 years old) and does the same things that Pietrangelo did during his Vegas career.
The biggest kicker of all is that Karlsson carries a cap hit of $10 million. He also has a full no-movement clause, which could hamper any chance of him coming to Vegas. There's a reason why Andersson was targeted rather than the three-time Norris Trophy winner. He wants to be in Vegas and wouldn't have as many obstacles (Andersson has a six-team no-trade list) as Karlsson.
The Golden Knights must get younger at the defenseman position
Kelly McCrimmon knows the team needs to get younger. Being the fourth-oldest team in the league (average age of 30, according to Left Wing Lock) doesn't help you when you're trying to win a Stanley Cup.
In comparison, the Florida Panthers have an average age of 29.6 (tied for 10th). They also kept key players like Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand around on team-friendly deals. Keeping both players for a combined $13.25 million AAV in an increasing salary cap is a testament to how the organization is run. Mind you, Aaron Ekblad came back for $6.1 million AAV.
Having Mitch Marner on board for eight years and $12 million AAV is already expensive enough. When you throw in Jack Eichel's impending agreement, it makes life more complicated. Therefore, bringing Karlsson on board is much more complex than it appears to be.
Looking at a player like Kaedan Korczak, he's the type of player who fits on the Golden Knights. Getting a four-year deal worth $3.25 million AAV will look much better down the road. That's especially true compared to the $10 million cap hit that the three-time Norris Trophy winner would bring.