Could The Maple Leafs Pursue Penguins' Erik Karlsson During The 2026-27 NHL Season?

On the latest episode of Sportsnet's 32 Thoughts podcast , Elliotte Friedman shared a 2026-27 prediction that someone gave him as he called around the league to get a grip on the latest NHL chatter. That unnamed contact said he predicts that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson will become a member of the Maple Leafs.

It's an interesting thought given the stature of the player that Karlsson is. Maybe he's not the same 100-point defenseman he was in 2022-23 with the San Jose Sharks . But the 36-year-old veteran is coming off a solid campaign with the Penguins this past year, in which he registered 15 goals and 66 points in 75 games, boosting his offensive production from the previous pair of seasons.

Patrik Laine Remains Unsigned And Maple Leafs Are Reportedly Among Teams That Could Take A Calculate Swing, Should They?The Maple Leafs are among the teams linked to free-agent sniper Patrik Laine, whose elite shot and injury-driven eligibility for a performance-bonus contract could make him a low-risk, high-reward addition.