Pittsburgh Penguins Make Blockbuster Trade

PITTSBURGH, PA — In a stunning three-way trade, the Penguins have acquired defenseman Erik Karlsson, forward Rem Pitlick, forward Dillon Hamaliuk and a 2026 third-round draft pick in a three-team trade involving the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens.

In return, San Jose acquires Pittsburgh's 2024 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected), forward Mikael Granlund, defenseman Jan Rutta and forward Mike Hoffman. Montreal acquires Pittsburgh's 2025 second-round draft pick, defenseman Jeff Petry, goaltender Casey DeSmith and forward Nathan Legare.

The trade likely represents the team's attempt to win a final championship with its core trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

Karlsson is signed through the 2026-27 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $11.5 million. San Jose is retaining $1.5 million of his salary yearly. Pitlick is signed through the 2023-24 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $1.1 million.

Hamaliuk's entry-level contract runs through the 2023-24 campaign and carries an average annual value of $789,167.

Karlsson, who won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman for the third time in his career in 2022-23 (2012 & '15), finished the season with 25 goals, 76 assists and 101 points in 82 games with San Jose. He became the sixthdefenseman in NHL history, and first since Brian Leetch in 1991-92, to have a 100-point season.

The 33-year old led all defensemen in goals, assists and points, and finished 11th overall in the league in points and fourth in even-strength points with 74.

The seven-time NHL all-star has played 14 seasons in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators (2009-18) and San Jose (2018-23), accumulating 178 goals, 583 assists and 761 points in 920 career games.