Erik Karlsson hasn’t been the fit the Pittsburgh Penguins were looking for 

Erik Karlsson hasn’t been the fit the Pittsburgh Penguins were looking for 
Credit: Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson (courtesy Pittsburgh Penguins)

With the Pittsburgh Penguins struggling and sitting seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 14-13-3, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss the acquisition of Erik Karlsson and how it has not been the fit the Penguins ultimately were looking for.

Frank Seravalli: My loser is the Pittsburgh Penguins acquiring Erik Karlsson. They have struggled well this year and we have documented their powerplay issues. For a team when you look at the Eastern Conference standings, is in thirteenth place, it’s kind of tough for one of the oldest rosters in the league to add a player of Karlsson’s age who isn’t putting up the point total at the pace he was last season at 100 points.

Frank Seravalli: The fit has not been fantastic on the powerplay and to think about three more years of Karlsson at $10 million per year and giving up your first-round pick already in the process when you might miss the playoffs again, I don’t know how the Penguins dig themselves out of this. I’ve said it before not revisionist history, when I looked at the Penguins last year I didn’t say they needed a 100-point defenseman and powerplay specialist to come in and help that team. I don’t see it then and I don’t see it now. 

Tyler Yaremchuk: We’ve talked about that a lot. It’s been a big story everywhere. It’s not even like Karlsson has played poorly, it’s just not what they needed. Karlsson coming in and playing well still hasn’t made the team better.

You can watch the full show here…

Keep scrolling for more content!