REPORT: Sharks Want Marcus Pettersson in Karlsson Trade?

Do the San Jose Sharks want defenseman Marcus Pettersson as part of an Erik Karlsson trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins?

“The Sharks have been interested in Marcus Pettersson as part of a deal with the Penguins,” the Athletic’s Rob Rossi wrote today. “However, [Penguins president Kyle] Dubas has so far resisted including Pettersson in any offers.”

It doesn’t sound like a deal-breaker, but it’s an interesting reveal. Since Jul. 1, when Karlsson to the Pens first started gaining momentum, in part because of Dan Kingerski from Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s reporting, we haven’t heard a lot about what the San Jose Sharks might want in exchange for Karlsson, besides your not very descriptive “picks and prospects”.

Pettersson, 27, is a solid shutdown blueliner with just a $4.025 million AAV over the next two years.

Rossi had other interesting details in his Karlsson trade update, including how Pens players are pressing the 2023 Norris Trophy winner to join them, and the fit with fellow star defenseman Kris Letang.

But here’s one more tidbit of particular interest to the San Jose Sharks.

It’s thought that the Penguins would need to off-load either Jeff Petry or Mikael Granlund’s contracts – or both – to make a San Jose-Pittsburgh Karlsson trade to work.

“It’s understood that Petry, whose family lives in Michigan, is not open to playing as far away as San Jose,” Rossi said.

Petry has a 15-team No-Trade Clause, while Granlund doesn’t have any protections in his pact. Both have two years left on their contracts, the 35-year-old defenseman at $6.25 million AAV and 31-year-old forward at $5 million AAV.

This doesn’t mean that Petry can’t be a part of a Karlsson swap, but he might be going to a third team instead of the Bay Area.

Anyway, it makes sense for the San Jose Sharks to want Pettersson. He can help the team now, and with his reasonable contract, is also a valuable trade asset.

Those, of course, are also good reasons for the Pens to want to keep him.

Speaking of players who might interest the Sharks in a Karlsson blockbuster, a source did suggest to San Jose Hockey Now recently that a Carolina Hurricanes prospect could be a target.

“Jack Drury’s name always comes up [with the Sharks],” a GM told SJHN recently.

"Jack Drury is a guy, from what I've heard, the Sharks like, and have liked."

What could an Erik Karlsson trade to #LetsGoCanes look like? Why could Drury be a part of it?

Full episode here –> https://t.co/KFhul724E0 pic.twitter.com/FlQngoIXl9

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) July 20, 2023

The centerman, 23, is younger and cheaper ($925,000 AAV with one year left) than Pettersson and could be a long-term fit for San Jose’s bottom-six.

As they have been since Jul. 1, Pittsburgh and Carolina are still seen as the leaders of the Karlsson derby right now.

REPORT: Friedman Still Thinks Pens or Canes for Karlsson, ‘Tipping’ Towards Pittsburgh