Colorado's signing of Brent Burns could open a spot for this Penguin in Carolina

Late Wednesday night defenseman Brent Burns decided to leave the Carolina Hurricanes and sign a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. This could mean true significance for a certain Penguins defenseman.

It was announced late Wednesday night by the Colorado Avalanche that they were signing Brent Burns to a one-year contract, prying him away from the Carolina Hurricanes after being with them for a few seasons.

This comes as a bit of a surprise as it seemed that Burns was going to re-sign in Carolina and continue to be a steady presence on their backend.

But this new opportunity for Burns really opens the door for the Carolina Hurricanes to target a certain Penguins defenseman in Erik Karlsson.

He can be the 1B to Jaccob Slavin in Raleigh and really help be the powerplay quarterback that they have needed for a while. Will the move happen? Who knows but it is an intriguing one if it does.

We have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Brent Burns. pic.twitter.com/UNtkSPSmFq

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 3, 2025

A trade for Karlsson is easier to facilitate with his bonus now being paid

For a while the Penguins have gotten calls on Erik Karlsson and being asked if he is up for trade. But trading him to another team becomes so much easier.

On July 1, his signing bonus of 5 million was paid and it makes it way easier to eat a little bit of money for the Penguins to get a better return in a trade.

With that bonus not being paid before July 1, other teams were not going to want to pay him 10 million-dollars as was his cap hit and have him be that expensive on their books.

But with that bonus being paid, watch for the Penguins to possibly find Carolina as a suitor for him with Burns officially signing elsewhere.