Penguins Celebrate Sidney Crosby’s Birthday by Acquiring Erik Karlsson

The hockey trade of the summer finally happened Sunday when Pittsburgh acquired Erik Karlsson in a three-way deal with San Jose and Montreal.

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The Karlsson talk had persisted through the spring and summer. Karlsson, 33, is a three-time Norris Trophy winner who wanted out of San Jose. If the Penguins aren’t already a handful for the Flyers, now Philadelphia will have to deal with Karlsson four times this season.

When the Penguins make news, it affects the Flyers. The Penguins are the Flyers’ biggest rival and, as the old expression goes, when Pittsburgh sneezes, Philadelphia catches a cold.

The Penguins landing Karlsson shakes up the entire Eastern Conference. The dynamic has changed. No team can think Pittsburgh is on the way down, with an aging team. The Penguins put themselves right back into serious Cup contention.

Smart move by the Penguins. Sidney Crosby turned 36 today. Quite a nice birthday present, landing one of the NHL’s premier defensemen.

Evgeni Malkin is 36. Kris Letang is 35. Jeff Carter is 38. It’s now or never for the Penguins’ core to try to win another Stanley Cup.

Crosby has won three Cups in Pittsburgh. The clock is ticking. Pittsburgh (40-32-11) missed the playoffs last season, by one point. New president and general manager Kyle Dubas wanted to do everything he would not let that happen again while Crosby is playing.

From Pittsburgh Hockey Now: All the details, money, and players changing sides. The official Erik Karlsson trade story.

Penguins trade analysis: Kyle Dubas got his man at a discount.

Penguins WIN Karlsson trade, but can’t stop here.

Here’s San Jose Hockey Now’s take: The Karlsson trade was a tale of two trades for the San Jose Sharks.

And from Montreal Hockey Now: Hello again, Jeff Petry. The Montreal Canadiens made it happen.

Plus the snap analysis on the Canadiens trade from Montreal Hockey Now.