Original six team completes trade call with the Pittsburgh Penguins involving Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson is no longer in his prime, but that doesn't mean he won't have his suitors. As a top-four defenseman in the Penguins' lineup, he's posted 53 points (11-42) and is just two seasons removed from his 101-point year with the Sharks.

Since then, he's been a consistent 50+ point scorer with the Penguins, playing alongside Ryan Graves. As a right-handed defenseman, they come at a premium in the NHL, a premium that Steve Yzerman may be eager to pay.

While Karlsson has posted 56 and 53 points in his last two seasons, he'll come at a huge cost, $11.5 million.

And for the Red Wings, accepting the contract without retention from the Penguins is bad business, as the team only has $12 million in cap space at the moment.

While Karlsson would easily slot into the Red Wings' lineup, there are better bargain bin options available.

Make no mistake, we're not going to poo-poo the idea entirely, but this seems like hubris when the team's latest addition to the blueline is Jacob Bernard-Docker, who isn't the kind of shutdown defenseman the team needs.

Nor is he a two-way wonder, or even K'Andre Miller, who Yzerman failed to secure.

Notably, RFA Ryker Evans of the Seattle Kraken, who has yet to sign with the team that drafted him, the team sent him a qualifying offer on July 1st.

For Yzerman, the last moves up until October will be mission-critical, as fans expect him to deliver a run to the playoffs.

Can he deliver?