Erik Karlsson's days as a San Jose Shark appear to be numbered. The Swedish defensive stalwart has had an up-and-down time since his 2018 trade to NoCal from the Ottawa Senators, but his 101-point campaign was a new career high, earning him a fifth Norris Trophy nomination. That said, it looks like he's officially on the move once again, according to recent comments he made ahead of tomorrow's NHL Awards.
According to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, Karlsson has stated his desire to be traded to a contender «as soon as possible,» but without any firm timeframe for a deal to happen. The two-time Norris winner is under contract until 2027 with a full no-movement clause at an AAV of $11.5 million. The 33-year-old's contract will be difficult to move, but there's already strong interest around the league for his services.
Despite his age and his ultra-high price tag (both with his cap hit and the expected return in a trade), Karlsson could very well win his third Norris tomorrow, and that alone should have teams lining up and figuring out cap gymnastics to get him.