Can Sens make the playoffs

Wouldn't have to give up that much to land Karlsson.... The Pens would be happy just to unload his cap hit. Think of why Staios got absolutely nothing for Tarasenko

It would be a more even trade if it were Karlsson at 50% which is 5M retained making Chych effectively cost 9.6 vs 4.6 next year [4k savings over EK] but a problem the year after if 87 wants to stay

That's not even at all. It's an absurdly stupid move for PIT team to make. Trade for a one year rental in a rebuild while eating $15m in dead money over three years. Start adding futures for that one.

In this trade, PIT gets a younger, better player at a cheaper cap rate for next year that is very tradable at the deadline or resignable to a long term deal. The retention is the cost of having an old, overpaid player who is worth a 3x5M, not 3x8M or 3x6M.

Considering PIT didn't make playoffs this year or last, the team needs to go big for 87 or watch him lead a bad team into his anti-climactic retirement.

It's very easy for fans to make these claims because we have no obligation to balance the books. Reality isn't so convenient. Look at how PIT got Karlsson in the first place; they were the only team that could afford his contract with minor retention. FSG has deeper pockets than SJ ownership, but you're utterly delusional if you think they are trading him at 50% for a one year rental. That's "get fired quickly" material if ownership even approves it at all. Karlsson at 50% retained is excellent value, and you know that or you wouldn't have him in the top pairing either BTW. At minimum it would require an additional 2026 1st and even that is questionable value for Dubas that probably only looks good if OTT makes it unprotected and the pick ends up in the top 15.