NJ gets SJ's 1st rd pick until they accumulate 2 lottery selections or until Karlsson's contract runs out.

I can't see a reasonable price to take on Karlsson. Even 50% retention is a burden on the team taking him on.

Lol sadly these kind of conditions aren't exactly viable. And knowing the Sharks history they probably more than done with giving up conditional picks.

No top-end prospects or anything above a 2nd rounder if you ask me. That probably means it never happens (like you said) but you get my point.

But I'd say if it were to happen maybe a good prospect and a couple draft picks of decent quality.

Well yeah top prospects and/or players are a must to get any team to agree to this.

Totally unrelated question because i would love to know something ... what team/jersey is that in your avatar , it looks like a flying elephant it kinda looks cool, the team colours are unique; silver with red base, thanks just asking for a friend

Devils fan here, I actually wouldn't mind bringing in Karlsson if we get a very good return. I'm talking 2021/2022 first round + Meier or one of their solid prospects. But as a team standpoint, I rather keep onto Subban as his deal would end after next year. And against what most people think, Subban is playing pretty well this year. Solid offensively, better defensively compared to last year and an excellent mentor for the young kids.

Meier's iffy. First rounders and prospects are to be expected because they're always a gamble, but certain top assets like Meier...I don't see they will be up for discussion. I mean by that point in the timespan of 2015-2021 they'd have only one first rounder left, and that's Ryan Merkley, who is with all due respect a step down from their other potential first rounders of that said timespan like Meier, Norris and even Stutzle in theory...losing all that for the sake of first bringing EK in and then ship him out is 6-7 years of futures wasted for nothing.

I would think Karlsson at $7-7.5 million x 5 years would be fine if he were a free agent. So they would only need to pay for years/salary beyond that.

2021 first/2022 first round pick would be the best return. However, I might rather keep Subban over Karlsson because at that time when NJ is competing, Karlsson's contract might hurt them. It's a tough call because the Devils need RHD and Karlsson could bounce back. A Skinner for Karlsson swap would make the most sense to be honest.

I lowkey like the idea of a Dahlin-Karlsson pair. All things considered, it'd probably have the best D-man of 2010s paired with the most potential D drafted in 2010s.

Exactly what I was thinking. That Swedish connection could help both players bounce back. Both players have NMC but I could see them waiving to get a fresh start. Sabres would need to add a little but it makes sense

Rather than mortgage the future to get rid of the deal, just let Karlsson keep playing at the level he is right now and continue to be the best player on the ice most shifts. Just can't see any possibility that moving Karlsson benefits the Sharks for the cost it will take and the dearth of useful players in UFA that you'd be able to use those dollars to pursue.

EK65 is not waiving his NMC for the Garden State :/

Literally said this in the description.

I don't think trading Karlsson and assets is a great move for the Sharks. Why pay to be terrible when you can be terrible for free? Might as well ride out Karlsson stockpile quality young players then when Sharks need the cap space you pay to dump him then at a lower cost because hopefully by then his contract will be 1/2 as long.

The idea is that because of those never-ending huge long-term contracts they're forced to suck most likely the whole decade. They can't make key acquisitions to fill their weaknesses, while the team core itself is getting older and older. And worse. Moving some of these obstacles is costly, but it supports further their rebuilding. The worst possible scenario is the one where because of these contracts they are unable to re-sign players like Hertl and Meier, which is a realistic possibility, all things considered.

Perhaps without these contracts they could have a new, younger core to roll with as early as 2024-25. It's a long process, but considerably better than rebuilding piece by piece until they finally might make the playoffs by 2028 or something, after all these contracts have expired.

I wouldn't do it for anything less than their 2022 or 2023 first round pick, unprotected.

Sign me up

Lowkey this was something I expected it to be.

You wont have a new young core by 2024 if you have to trade first round picks to move guys. The only thing Wilson can do is be patient find a goaltender and yes I agree he will have to trade whatever he can to get prospects and picks to fill in around the large contracts. I don't get to see a lot of Sharks games but from what I've seen Burns, Ferraro, Karlsson, and Knyzhov aren't amazing but they work. Vlasic should play against slower teams and Simik the others as the 3rd pair. That means the Sharks should look for a better right side 3rd pair defenseman to pair with them, probably one who can skate. Merkley needs more time, so not him. If the Sharks found a coach who would install a sound defensive structure that could help as well.
Guys that Sharks should look to move
Hertl- he should bring a good return.
Meier- another nice return
Labanc- depending on the return
Kane? Not sure on his current value but if you can't get much just hold him.
Donato he should fetch a pick.
Jones you buyout after this year.
Obviously you expose any large contract you can to the Kraken but I doubt they take them for free.