What Would It Take to Bring Karlsson to Flyers?

Ok, you saw this headline and your brain came to a screeching halt. You are wondering if I am crazy. First of all I can assure you that I am (mostly) not. But why would I want to bring in a 32 year old defender when the Flyers are building a youth culture? Why would I want to take on a contract that is worth $11,500,000 and expires at the end of the 2026-27 season; four years from now?

Those are all very legitimate concerns. But the biggest reason for this is twofold.

First of all, on a team like San Jose, a team that had a much worse record than the Flyers had, he scored 101 points (25 goals and 76 assists). That would easily lead the Flyers in points. The last blueliner to reach the 100 point mark was Brian Leetch in 1991-92. That’s 30 years ago.  To have a player like that put up those kind of points on a team that is not good would be incredible.

Secondly, he is also a solid defender as well. He is a two time Norris Trophy winner and four time All-Star. And he has done this playing for bad teams: Ottawa Senators and the Sharks. He is not as risky an offensively minded defender as some of the others on the team.

Ok, so what would it take to get him? As the Sharks began to trade off assets this season, like Timo Meier, rumors abounded about what it would take to acquire Karlsson. Allegedly, San Jose was asking for three first round picks for him and for 18% of his salary. Yeah….that knocks it down to just over $9 million. But to cough up a future like that…ugh. Teams may have kicked the tires in on him, but nobody paid that price.

Karlsson has also expressed his displeasure at San Jose’s lack of winning. As we’ve seen in the past, when a player like this wants off a team badly, it lowers the price to acquire them.

So, what would it take for the Flyers to acquire him? I would say that they should offer one of their two first rounders in 2024. Secondly, offer them a prospect. Finally, give them a choice of a defender or defenders.

For example, Tony DeAngelo has one year left on his contract. He is also hopping mad that he was benched often this year. DeAngelo is costing the Flyers $5 million. That’s half of Karlsson’s salary. But with James van Riemsdyk’s $7 million salary coming off the books, that breaks the Flyers pretty much even with $1 million to spare. The Sharks could choose to sign DeAngelo or flip him for more assets.

It’s probably not going to happen. But still if the Flyers were willing to retain all of Karlsson’s salary for some combo of a prospect, a first rounder, and DeAngelo, Travis Sanheim, and/or Ivan Provorov, it should be considered. And you know, it might not be as crazy as you think.