"This isn’t Karlsson": Pittsburgh Penguins fans disappointed after they sign D-man on a 3-year contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins made an announcement on Friday that left fans with mixed emotions. The team revealed that they had signed defenseman Emil Pieniniemi to a three-year entry-level contract.

Pieniniemi, who was drafted by the Penguins in the third round (91st overall) of this year's NHL Draft, joins the squad at the age of 18.

While the Penguins were excited to add Pieniniemi to their roster, some fans were left disappointed, as they were anticipating a different signing. Specifically, they hoped to acquire defenseman Erik Karlsson, a prominent name in the NHL.

One fan commented:

"This isn't Karlsson."

Another playfully remarked:

"Weird way to spell Erik Karlsson, but ok."

One user, acknowledging their initial excitement followed by momentary disappointment, tweeted:

"Every godd*mn time my heart stops for a second when I see 'welcome' and 'defenseman' in the same post... Thank u @penguins."

As the offseason progresses, fans will closely follow the Penguins' moves and hope for further additions to bolster the team's roster.

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Exploring why Eric Karlsson would be the perfect fit for Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been actively pursuing three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson since the 2023 NHL Draft, and they have emerged as the frontrunners to land the star defenseman.

Karlsson reportedly favors Pittsburgh as his next destination and would significantly boost the Penguins' blue line.

With veteran Kris Letang already leading the top line and power play, where would Karlsson fit in?

Dallas Stars v San Jose Sharks

Assuming the deal between the Penguins and San Jose Sharks comes to fruition, it is likely that Jeff Petry would be involved in the trade. This would create an opportunity for Karlsson to slot in as the second-line right defenseman alongside fellow Swede Marcus Pettersson.

Pairing Karlsson with Pettersson, who had a breakout season, would create a dynamic defensive duo. Furthermore, the Penguins have struggled on the power play in recent years, and Karlsson's scoring touch would provide a significant boost with the man advantage.

Alternatively, the Pittsburgh Penguins could experiment with playing Letang and Karlsson together on the first power-play unit. The offensive firepower of Letang and Karlsson alongside Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jake Guentzel could strike fear into opponents.