from Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now,

The stalemate over the much-hyped and now much-awaited Erik Karlsson trade is now dragging into its third week. With the passing days, the Pittsburgh Penguins trade effort seems less like an impasse and more like a bluff by the San Jose Sharks that Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and other general managers are ready to call.

If San Jose GM Mike Grier isn’t bluffing as he attempts to drive up the price for Karlsson, he will buckle just the same because the Sharks do not have a strong position.

Grier is trying to rebuild his club after the big bet on Karlsson and Brent Burns by former GM Doug Wilson went bust, and he is using his Karlsson chip. Unfortunately for the teal and white, there was not an overaggressive GM willing to splurge to get it done.

One can hope. One can sell the positives. But in this case, a Karlsson acquisition carries significant risk, from his injury history to upsetting team chemistry to age and decreased production.

The Penguins don’t need Karlsson. Nor do the Carolina Hurricanes.

continued