Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired reigning Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson, a 2026 third-round pick, and left-wing Dillon Hamaluk from the San Jose Sharks in addition to right-wing Rem Pitlick from the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. San Jose will retain $1.5 million of Karlsson’s $11.5 million cap hit for each of the next four seasons.

Erik Karlsson, traded to PIT, is an elite offensive defenceman coming off one of the greatest offensive seasons we’ve ever seen from a blueliner. Amazing passer, excellent shot. Also an extremely poor defender who sacrifices a lot to make that offence happen. #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/XbShgRF1tk

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 6, 2023

San Jose acquired Pittsburgh’s 2024 first-round pick (if it is in the top-10, Pittsburgh can send their 2025 first-round pick instead), center Mikael Granlund, right-wing Mike Hoffman (from Montreal), and defenseman Jan Rutta. Montreal acquired defenseman Jeff Petry, goaltender Casey DeSmith, center Nathan Legare, and Pittsburgh’s 2025 second-round pick in the three-way trade.

Karlsson, who is 33 and shoots with his right hand, set career-highs in goals (25), assists (76), and points (101) in 82 games last season, his first time playing in 60 since 2017-18. Karlsson also tallied a 53.59% Corsi-for percentage, 53.46% expected-goals-for percentage, and 54.61% scoring chances-for percentage at five-on-five while averaging 25:37 per game (fifth among NHL defensemen), including 3:24 on the power play (12th) and 24 seconds on the penalty kill.

Karlsson has 178 goals and 761 points in 920 career NHL regular-season games with San Jose and the Ottawa Senators. He has posted at least 60 points in a season six times over his 14 seasons and 10 goals eight.

Karlsson gives Pittsburgh, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons last year, another power play threat and right-handed blueliner along with Kris Letang. The team tallied a league-average 3.18 goals-per-game and 21.7% power-play efficiency (14th).

Karlsson, who has collected eight goals and 53 points in 67 career postseason games, also won the Norris Trophy with Ottawa in 2012 and 2015.

Pitlick, 26, piled up six goals and 15 points in 46 games last season and has 21 goals and 54 points in 123 career games with Montreal, the Nashville Predators, and Minnesota Wild. He averaged 59 seconds on the power play (tied for 16th among Montreal forwards) and 24 on the penalty kill. Pitlick comes with a $1.1 cap hit and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Rem Pitlick, traded to PIT, is a depth forward with decent finishing touch. #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/6RWbOFbsgn

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 6, 2023

Rutta, 33, earned three goals, nine points, a +3 rating, 48.96% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 53.46% five-on-five expected-goals-for percentage, and 54.61% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 17:07 per game (sixth among Pittsburgh blueliners), including 2:33 on the penalty-kill (second). In 294 career games with Pittsburgh, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Chicago Blackhawks, Rutta has recorded 15 goals and 70 points.

Jan Rutta, traded to SJ, is veteran third-pairing defensive defenceman. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/PnTNFer4w9

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 6, 2023

Granlund, 31, recorded 10 goals and 41 points in 79 regular-season games with Pittsburgh and the Nashville Predators, but just one goal and five points in 21 games after getting dealt from the Music City. In 750 career regular-season games with Pittsburgh, Nashville, and Minnesota, Granlund has 145 goals and 484 points.

Petry, 35, tallied five goals, 31 points, a +2 rating, 51.84% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 53.94% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 51.85% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 22:21 per game (second), including 2:20 on the power play (third) and 2:22 on the penalty kill (third). In 864 career regular-season games with Montreal, Pittsburgh, and the Edmonton Oilers, Petry has earned 92 goals and 353 points. Petry played in Montreal over eight seasons from 2014-22 before getting traded to Pittsburgh for defenseman Mike Matheson and a 2023 fourth-round pick in July 2022.

Casey DeSmith, traded to MTL, has been a pretty reliable backup for the Pens while often having to take the starter’s net due to injury. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/BK41tmJrui

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 6, 2023

DeSmith, 31, went 15-16-4 with a .905 save percentage and 3.17 goals-against average in 2022-23 and has a 58-44-12 record, .912 save percentage, 2.81 goals-against average, and nine shutouts in 134 career NHL games, all with Pittsburgh.

Here’s why the Canadiens are making this trade: pic.twitter.com/kXYAfaFecl

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) August 6, 2023

Legare, 21, was taken with the 74th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and earned eight goals and 19 points in 68 AHL games with Wilkes-Barrie Scranton last season.

Hoffman, 33, collected 14 goals and 34 points in 67 games in 2022-23 and has 218 goals and 464 points in 679 career regular-season games.

Mike Hoffman, amusingly included in a Karlsson trade, is a pure sniper who likes to take one-timers from distance. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/tq8cQ2WBt6

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 6, 2023

By Harrison Brown