A few weeks ago, there was so much buzz around an Erik Karlsson deal that a league-altering trade seemed inevitable. But as we approach August, the two-time Norris Trophy winner is still with the Ottawa Senators.
That leaves the door open for a number of teams to swoop in and either become a Stanley Cup favorite or set themselves up for a future of competitive hockey.
Let's have a look at how each contender for Karlsson's services could be improved by adding him.
The favorites
Dallas Stars
Why they need Karlsson: To win in the Tyler Seguin era
Key stat: One playoff series win since acquiring Seguin
Stars general manager Jim Nill pulled off one of the all-time trade steals when he acquired Seguin from the Boston Bruins. Since the superstar center landed in Dallas in 2013-14, only Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have more goals scored. However, the Stars have only reached the second round of the playoffs once with Seguin on the roster.
Depending on the season, goaltending or depth scoring generally caught the brunt of the blame, but the Stars haven't had an elite defenseman during Seguin's tenure. While they still don't have the deepest group of forwards, the combination of Karlsson and John Klingberg would give Dallas the most dangerous set of offensive-minded defenders in the NHL and a great shot at reaching their full potential with Seguin in his prime. Another factor to keep in mind: Seguin's contract is up after this season. Even if it couldn't work out a long-term deal, Dallas could go all-in on Karlsson as a win-now rental.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Why they need Karlsson: To get over the playoff hump
Key stat: 18 points in 19 playoff games in 2016-17
Have you seen the Golden State Warriors? Well, that's what the Lightning would look like if they were able to add Ottawa's superstar defenseman.
Tampa Bay already has three of the league's elite players in Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman, who have put them on the doorstep of a Stanley Cup three times with Jon Cooper behind the bench. But the Lightning have come up short in the Stanley Cup Final once and the conference finals twice. Last season, Cooper's club won the Atlantic Division and stacked up the blue line by acquiring Ryan McDonagh, but it still wasn't enough.
Karlsson proved in 2016-17 that he can dominate both ends of the ice. He was on the ice for 23 goals for and only 11 against in 19 postseason games. That's the type of otherworldly playoff performance the Lightning need to win it all.
Vegas Golden Knights
Why they need Karlsson: To avoid plausible regression
Key stat: 110 points between James Neal and David Perron left in free agency
Vegas' magical run to the Stanley Cup Final was one of the most improbable in sports history. Because they have a number of quality young players, they should have Cup aspirations for 2018-19, but the road could be harder next time around. Not only did the Golden Knights lose their third- and sixth-best point producers in Neal and Perron, top scorer William Karlsson seems ripe for regression following his league-leading 23.4 percent shooting percentage en route to a 43-goal season. Vegas also received amazing goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury, who set a career high with a .927 save percentage.
Someone needs to make up the difference. With assets spilling over from expansion-draft trades, the Golden Knights could have the ammo to give Ottawa what they are demanding. That could bring them a ticket back into the Cup mix for 2018-19, as well as years to come if they sign Erik Karlsson to a long-term deal. For entertainment purposes, the NHL could use Vegas in the playoffs year after year.
In the mix
Philadelphia Flyers
Why they need Karlsson: To win now with their top players in or entering their primes
Key stat: 18th in Corsi Percentage, 16th in Goals For Percentage (even strength)
The Flyers are on the right path. They possess a good mix of proven veteran scorers, including Claude Giroux, who made a strong case for the Hart Trophy with 102 points last season, and up-and-coming stars with Ivan Provorov and Nolan Patrick. When a team reaches that hot zone, which allows them to afford to add the missing piece, it shouldn't pass up the opportunity.
Last season, they were mediocre across the board, ranking middle of the pack in Corsi, goals for percentage, power play (16th) and even-strength save percentage (13th). Karlsson has been a positive Corsi player in every season of his career and has raised his team's percentage by as much as 8.0 percent in 2015-16. He's also tallied 20-plus power-play assists five times.
Washington Capitals
Why they need Karlsson: To repeat
Key stat: Alex Ovechkin is 32 years old, while Nicklas Backstrom is 30
If there is a team with nothing to lose by going all-in on a one-year Karlsson rental, it's the Capitals. They have a lifetime's worth of goodwill built up from winning the Stanley Cup, so even if they came up short with Karlsson, it would be a hard move to criticize. With Ovechkin and Backstrom getting into their late primes, the Caps are only going to have so many more kicks at the can. There is little downside to going all-in, no matter the future sacrifice. They will need to get a bit creative with the cap, but it's doable.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Why they need Karlsson: In must-win situation with John Tavares
Key stat: Tavares is seventh in points per game over past five years
Toronto pushed all its chips to the middle of the table when it signed Tavares to a seven-year, $77 million contract. Now the Maple Leafs have rocketed from a team at the end of its rebuild to win-now mode. While they played up-tempo, the Leafs could still improve their puck possession. Last season they gave up the fourth-most even-strength shots on goal. Karlsson's ability to control the game from the back end, along with Tavares' skill and Auston Matthews' two-way dominance, would be a nightmare for opposing teams and give them the best shot to end a very long Cup drought in Toronto.
New York Rangers
Why they need Karlsson: To jump-start the rebuild
Key stat: Zero defensemen with more than 30 points last season
The Rangers are caught between being too good to tank and not good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup. Acquiring Karlsson and signing him to a long-term deal could change that. As demonstrated in Ottawa, the NHL's No. 1 point-producing defenseman over the past five seasons can instantly put a team in the mix, so long as it has a competitive supporting cast. With Henrik Lundqvist coming down the final stretch of his career, acquiring Karlsson would give the Blueshirts the ability to compete with him still between the pipes and build around him for the future.
San Jose Sharks
Why they need Karlsson: To remain relevant post-Joe Thornton
Key stat: Three of four top players in points per game over 30 years old
Here's a crazy factoid: San Jose has missed the playoffs once since they acquired Thornton from the Bruins in 2005-06. Along with Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau, Thornton has been at the center of success for the Sharks. But Jumbo Joe is likely entering his final year, and Pavelski and Brent Burns are both reaching their late primes. San Jose made it clear it doesn't plan to rebuild by signing Evander Kane to a long-term deal, but with an aging club around him (save for Logan Couture), the Sharks will need another elite player to remain relevant in the West. No price should be too high, assuming Karlsson would be willing to stay.
Colorado Avalanche
Why they need Karlsson: It's full speed ahead in the Nathan MacKinnon era
Key stat: No player outside MacKinnon's line topped 45 points
MacKinnon proved in 2017-18 he is a franchise player capable of carrying a rebuilding team to the playoffs. His supporting cast includes some nice pieces, but isn't yet capable of competing for a Cup. With MacKinnon under a very reasonable contract ($6.3 million cap hit), the Avs could swing a deal and then break the bank to give their young superstar center another elite player to push the Avs into the Cup conversation.
Long shots
New York Islanders
Why they need Karlsson: Losing Tavares was crushing
There is still reason to believe the Islanders can someday become a contender -- mostly because of rising star Mathew Barzal -- but they can quickly bounce back from losing their No. 1 center by landing the league's best offensive-defenseman.
New Jersey Devils
Why they need Karlsson: Taylor Hall needs more help
The Hart Trophy winner put the Devils on his back this season. Going forward, New Jersey must find him a puck-dominating blueliner.
Chicago Blackhawks
Why they need Karlsson: One last swing with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane
It wouldn't be easy considering their cap situation, but the Blackhawks would be a candidate to rent Karlsson for one year in order to take another shot with their two superstars in their primes.
Arizona Coyotes
Why they need Karlsson: To make them an instant draw
It's been a long time since Arizona was in the discussion for anything aside from No. 1 pick in the draft. Putting Karlsson alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson would make the Coyotes a must-watch team.